A DIABETIC five-year-old has received an early Christmas present from Santa after winning a festive competition.

Darcy Davies of Steeple Ashton was named winner of the Crowning Glory competition, which was organised by staff at Lakeside Garden Centre, Crockerton, as part of this year’s Christmas festivities.

Darcy, had just come out of hospital, decided to draw a crown for Santa and was named one of the winners of the competition for her artistic talents.

Steve Cripps, centre manager, said: “It was lovely for staff to meet Darcy and hear her story as well as the other children who took part in the Crowning Glory competition.

“Congratulations to Darcy, and the other winners Shannon and Alice and thank you to everyone who took part. We hope to see more children and their crown designs next weekend.”

Darcy is a pupil of Warminster Pre-Prep School and her fellow prize winners were Shannon Rees, six, of Sutton Veny Primary School and Sambourne Primary School pupil, Alice Woodyatt, nine, of Warminster, who came second and third respectively.

The youngster has to inject insulin up to nine times a day to control her condition and when she is having a difficult time she looks through a moments’ box to remind her of all the good times she’s had.

Lakeside Garden Centre is a family-run business which was started up over 40 years ago and stocks a variety of plants, shrubs and trees as well as garden furniture.

Many of the plants are grown at its own nursery in Somerset.