A PICTURE painted by a young girl from Weymouth is now exhibited in the National Gallery.

Laura Chitty, seven, from Weymouth painted a res-ponse to Raphael's The Madonna of the Pinks for a competition run by the National Gallery and YOU magazine.

Her picture was one of 20 selected from hundreds of entries from across the country sent in by children aged three to 18.

Laura's mum Linda, 41, said: "I thought the competition would give Laura and her sister Marguerite something to do in the holiday because they were bored.

"She was thrilled when she heard that she'd won and we are going to the National Gallery to see it and to look at the other entries."

Laura had her own way of interpreting the picture and Linda said: "We went to Corfe Castle on a day trip, so Laura had to include that.

"The cow and barn door are there because the baby was born in a stable and the baby is in the cot because Laura thought it looked tired.

"The baby has pushed the blanket off because it is too hot."

When Laura is not creating masterpieces, she enjoys sport, especially running.

Linda said: "Laura's real ambition is life is to be a lady farmer or being in a pop group with her sister."

The competition is part of an appeal to raise awareness and money to help keep the painting which is part of our heritage.

Laura's picture can be seen at the national gallery in London, until September 14.