MORE than 100 children submitted Wellington boot designs for a competition helping Poole’s RNLI station kick off its 150th anniversary celebration year.

The competition, run in conjunction with Sainsbury’s, invited children to Give it Some Welly! for the life-saving charity. And they certainly did – with a myriad of colourful designs both on paper and on real boots, with everything from space to fish and chips, to sparkles and bling featuring.

The competition was launched at the Talbot Heath Sainsbury’s store with RNLI mascot Stormy Stan.

It was judged at the Poole Lifeboat Station on Monday, where an open day was being held to mark 150 years to the day since it opened.

Adrian Wheal, PR ambassador at Sainsbury’s Talbot Heath, said: “The quality of the designs is fantastic.”

The chosen overall winner was 10-year-old Kanema Martin with a colourful design showing a lifeboat out on the water with rain and sun overhead.

She will be invited to receive her £200 prize along with the other category winners and runners up at a special service for the RNLI at St James’ Church, Poole, on Sunday.

These are the first of a year of events to celebrate 150 years of Poole RNLI station.

Paul Taylor, station mechanic and chairman of the Poole and district fundraising branch, said they were calling for people to get involved in “150 for 150”, a challenge for businesses, schools, groups or individuals to raise £150 for Poole RNLI over the course of its anniversary year.

Among the events over the next 12 months will be open days at the station, an exhibition of its history at Poole Museum and a corporate ball, added Paul. “The main thing is celebrating 150 years,” he said. “We want to celebrate with the community and all the people who have been part of it and supported us, and raise awareness of the RNLI.”