COUTURE creations by a group of Worcester students generated hundreds of votes in a competition organised by CrownGate shopping centre.

Pupils from year nine at RGS Worcester designed a range of hats, fascinators and headbands for Worcester-shire County Cricket Club’s ladies’ day in July.

Each design was uploaded onto the CrownGate Face-book page where style-lovers voted for their favourite. The designs were also showcased in CrownGate for shoppers to admire.

The competition, which was promoted through the CrownGate website and Facebook page, your Worcester News, the RGS Worcester newsletter and in the shopping centre itself, generated nearly 500 votes over two weeks. A delicate floral design, created by Annabelle Elcock, aged 14, was chosen as the winning hat with Amy Vickery, 14, and Keira Brady, 13, as runners up.

Annabelle was presented with her prize – House of Fraser vouchers and a Boots goodie bag – in front of 250 guests at ladies’ day itself where the three designs were displayed throughout the event.

Each student who entered also received a goodie bag filled with products from Boots, House of Fraser, Nos-talgic Sweets, Animal, the Body Shop and Primark.

CrownGate centre manager Erica Burlace said: “The competition was a huge success. I have received so many positive comments from shoppers and colleagues alike. The students showed exceptional talent – the designs were amazing and we were thrilled with the enthusiasm and effort put in from everyone.

“I would also like to say a huge thank you to Jo Dutfield for helping to make the competition such a success and we look forward to working with RGS again.”

Jo Dutfield, head of textiles at RGS Worcester, said: “Our girls were so excited to be asked by CrownGate to get involved in the competition as it enabled them to use their technical knowledge, as well as giving their creativity full rein.”