LEIGH Market has found its mascot.

The Leigh Journal in conjunction with Wigan Council and Leigh Market ran a Design a Mascot competition for youngsters.

Designs from lions to lambs and from superheroes and teddy bears were submitted all with the aim of being tuned into a walking, talking mascot for Leigh.

The mascot will be used to promote the market around Leigh Town Centre and help with planned events.

After being whittled down to 10 entries a phone, text and postal vote was opened and after counting the votes, St Thomas' Primary School pupil Tegan Newton aged six, from Leigh was announced as the winner.

Tegan’s mum Rebecca Topping, of Bedford Square, said: “It is brilliant, she is thrilled to bits.

“We are all very proud of her.

“She loves drawing and she is very competitive — she is just one of those children that you know is going to go places.”

Mrs Southern, Deputy Headteacher of St Thomas' Primary School said: “We are all delighted that Teegan won the competition to design a mascot for Leigh Market and we look forward to seeing the design brought to life. Well done Tegan.”

The mascot is part of a regeneration and marketing campaign for Leigh Market to entice people back to the town.

Glenn Furnival, who runs Under the Fishman stall in the market said: “We are looking forward to making the mascot design into a real life being and get it doing good works around Leigh and bringing cheer into the market.

“Congratulations and thank you to Tegan.”