This Christmas we invited some schools in our community to help bring some festive cheer to our police headquarters.

Standing tall in the atrium at Middle Engine Lane is a wonderful tree, which was kindly donated by our friends at the Forestry Commission – and this year we decided to add something extra special.

So we invited school children from across the area to take part in a bauble decorating competition.

The pupils were asked to design a bauble that reflected both Northumbria Police and Christmas and could include a message to a police officer.

Pupils from six schools participated and Chief Constable Winton Keenen went through all the fantastic entries we received to select a winner from each school.

The designs were then transformed into a real bauble, and we’re pleased to reveal that these decorations are now proudly hanging on our Christmas tree.

All the winners were sent a prize to thank them for their great work.

Chief Constable Keenen helped hang the decorations earlier this month and said: “Once again, this year we were unable to hold our Christmas event safely but having this competition and being able to involve young people across the force area in our Christmas festivities was a real privilege.

“There were some brilliant designs, and the winning baubles look fantastic hanging on our tree for everyone to see. Thank you to everyone who took part.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas and all the very best for the New Year.”