A drawing of a snowman by a six-year-old boy has won this year’s competition for the Christmas front cover of the Big Issue magazine.

Over 1,000 entries were made this year for the annual contest run by the magazine, which is sold to help homeless people.

⛄? ❄️ JOY! ⛄? ❄️ Congratulations to six-year-old Martin Wellstead, from Wimborne, Dorset – winner of our 2017 Christmas cover competition. Martin’s wonderful design will grace our cover from Monday (December 4). Read more ➡️ https://t.co/Hs6uxP5DwG pic.twitter.com/oPbBr5ZGAo — The Big Issue (@BigIssue) December 1, 2017
Martin Wellstead, aged six, from Wimborne, Dorset, was named the winner for his drawing of a smiling snowman underneath the word “Joy!”.

He said: “I looked at last year’s winner and the winner from the year before, before deciding what to draw.

“I thought that you guys needed a snowman so that is what I wanted to give you this year. It took me about three hours to draw my cover.”

A delighted Martin said: “It’s amazing to win the competition! I thought that you guys needed a snowman, so that is what I wanted to give you this year. It took me about three hours to draw.” ⛄ ➡️ https://t.co/Hs6uxP5DwG pic.twitter.com/uwtnlqmRIb

December 1, 2017
Big Issue editor Paul McNamee said: ”[The cover] lifts your spirits and makes you smile, simply and honestly. That feels very timely right now.”