PUPILS have designed a new Lyme Regis residents’ discount card which will be released next year.

Youngsters from St Michael’s Primary School and the Woodroffe School were asked to create designs for the Gateway Card, which is to be introduced by Lyme Regis Town Council.

The authority received an enthusiastic response, with almost 100 designs from the two schools, that three different winning designs were chosen.

The entry from Frida Foody, a year 1 pupil at St Michael’s, will be on the front of one version of the card, with year 4 pupil Josie Smith’s design on the back of the card.

A second version of the card has been designed by Woodroffe School year 12 pupils Jack Price and Iona Adair.

The Gateway Card will provide discounts and special offers at local shops, pubs and restaurants to Lyme Regis residents.

The card, which will be introduced early next year, will be available to all Lyme residents, provided those under 16 have proof of parental consent.

The pupils who created the winning designs were presented with book tokens by Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, chairman of the council’s tourism, community and publicity committee.

Presenting the prizes at St Michael’s, Cllr Reynolds thanked the pupils for taking part in the competition.

She said: “It was so difficult to decide who was going to win because they were all amazing.

“Lyme Regis is really important to all of us and we want to carry on working with the school to help the town.”

Woodroffe pupils Jack and Iona had Lyme Regis very much in mind when creating their design.

Iona said: “I wanted to represent Lyme Regis, but not in a really stereotypical way. I included the ammonite lampposts because they are an iconic part of Lyme Regis, but I also wanted to include parts that mean a lot to me, like the Marine Theatre, because I have performed there and at the Big Mix festival.

“I included a fisherman because I thought that was a nice personal touch.”

As graphics students, Iona and Jack hope this project will help them in their future careers.

Jack said: “I was chuffed when I found out our design had been chosen. It’s good to have something that I can show in interviews, a physical object that we have designed.”

Any businesses who would like to get involved in the scheme are asked to sign up by 19 December 2016, in preparation for the launch of the card to residents in early-2017.

Businesses are asked to contact the town council on 01297 445175 or enquiries@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk by this date, together with the discount or special offer they intend to provide.