Sadie’s castle picture scoops dream prize

Seven-year-old Sadie Wilson, a pupil at Larne and Inver Primary, has won an all-expenses paid trip to the popular theme park after her Disney castle picture captured the imagination of the judges.

The Larne youngster is one of 16 prizewinners from across Europe in the Disney ‘Imagination Castle’ competition.

The challenge was for kids to design a fantasy castle with a reconstruction of the best entries used to create a replica based on these designs at the Parisian theme park.

Sadie’s family has been invited to the French capital for the official unveiling on May 10.

Closer to home, on Tuesday, she was invited to display her winning design to classmates and other pupils during assembly at Larne and Inver Primary.

Proud mum Gayle Wilson said that her daughter is one of three lucky winners from the United Kingdom.

The online competition was organised by Disneyland Paris for children in the UK, France, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Disneyland Paris said it was looking for “architects from all over the world to conjure up a magical place”.

Mrs Wilson explained: “The drawing was just something to do on a Sunday afternoon while it was raining.

“I was looking at the Disneyland Facebook page and the competition was on it.

“I told Sadie it was something she could do. We had been to Disneyland last summer. I thought it could be a good way of getting to stay in a Disneyland hotel.

“She just drew the castle with felt tips and stuck on some glitter.

“I took a photo and then uploaded it.”

To her surprise and delight, Mrs Wilson received an email confirming that Sadie was among the lucky winners.

Mrs Wilson said that she is probably more excited by the win than Sadie and the family are now looking forward to making the trip in May.

Sadie will be accompanied by her mum, dad, Jonpaul and three-year-old sister Poppy.