NEWPORT estate agents Roberts asked primary school children to design and build a dream home.

The competition was aimed at raising awareness among young people about what is involved in buying a first home.

The pupils had to design a 3D model of a dream home – it could be up to three storeys high and should include a circuit or mechanism such as lights or a door opening.

The Mayor of Newport, Cllr David Fouweather, along with Newsquest’s managing director for Wales Hussain Bayoomi, and partner of Harding Evans Solicitors Wyn Williams, were invited to be part of the judging panel, with the finals taking place at The Holiday Inn, Newport.

Katie Darlow, manager at Roberts, said: “We ran the competition for the first-time last year and because we had such a great response, we decided to run it again this year, but this time with two categories – one for infants aged three to seven and one for the juniors aged seven to 11.

“The competition was open to any primary school in the areas covered by our Roberts branches, such as Abergavenny, Blackwood, Caerleon, Caerphilly, Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale, Magor, Newport, Pontypool, Risca and Usk.

“Schools that entered the competition included Llanbedr Church in Wales Primary, Waunfawr Primary, Shirenewton Primary, High Cross Primary, Rogerstone Primary, Raglan Primary, Usk Church in Wales (last year’s winners), Millbrook Primary, and St Gabriel’s RC Primary to name but a few.

“Both categories had a top prize of £500 for their school and then £250 each for the runners up, and, due to the calibre of the entries here today, we decided to add third place prize of £100 too.

“Sixteen schools entered the competition in total, but unfortunately two were unable to make it the finals here today at the Holiday Inn.

“The ideas that the children come up with are simply amazing – we’ve had a lot of really innovative designs, with houses being eco friendly at the forefront of the children’s ideas.

“The competition is fun, but it is also educational, and we are delighted that this year again, so many schools took time out of their very busy daily schedules to take part."

Judging the competition was tough, and took much deliberation, but the overall winners were announced to a roaring applause from the school children and teachers.

Winners of the infants category were: 1 Llanbedr Church In Wales, 2 Shirenewton Primary, 3 Rogerstone Primary

Winners of the juniors category were: 1 Shirenewton Primary, 2 Usk Church in Wales, 3 High Cross Primary.