A CREATIVE daughter is following in her mum’s footsteps after being shortlisted for a Post Office competition.

Willow Cawley, five, from Witham, is in with a chance to win the Royal Mail’s design a Christmas stamp competition.

Willow, of Newland Street, is one of five in her age group in the east of England to make the cut.

About 30 years ago her mum, Heather, won a Royal Mail competition to write a letter to an imaginary friend.

Willow, who attends Powers Hall School, hopes to continue the winning streak.

Her mum, who was eight-years- old when she won her competition, said: “She is a bit of an artist, she loves drawing. She has had a pencil gripped in her hand since she was about one.

“From Willow’s perspective her design has gone on the school’s website and as far as she is concerned that is celebrity status for her.”

Willow also loves to put on shows with her brother Elliott, eight, and sister Nancy, four.

Her mum said: “They always design posters and Willow forever has felt-tip on her fingers.

“She always finds time to do some art before school.”

When Heather was a young girl, she won a Post Office competition to write a letter to an imaginary pen pal.

Her letter said: “When your spaceship landed I was excited and scared at the same time.

“Do not worry, I will not say a word about you to my mum or she will tell the police and take you away from me and study you.”

Gazette:

Willow's mum, Heather, when she won her prize 30 years ago

Speaking about her memory of winning, she said: “I remember being really concerned that my spelling wasn’t good enough.

“I remember going to collect the prizes and the press came to take a photo of me at school for the local paper.

“I had snuck a top into school which I knew my mum wouldn’t want me to wear and changed in the toilets.”

Heather was given a tour of the sorting office and some letter-writ - ing equipment as a prize.

Willow is one of 205,000 children to have her stamp design judged.

From the area finalists, the winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and will be announced by the end of June.