IT’S a competition fit for a Queen.

Dozens of Hampshire children and teenagers have dug out their pens, pencils and paint brushes for a special challenge to help mark our monarch’s 90th birthday.

But time is running out to be in with a chance of being crowned top young artist in the Daily Echo’s Paint the Queen competition.

Among those who have already entered is six-year-old Lauren Vaughan from Millbrook who sent in this stunning portrait featuring Her Majesty wearing beautiful blue earrings and a sparkling red crown, alongside two beefeaters standing guard.

Entrants that send their images in before April 10 have the chance to get their hands on top prizes.

The best picture in each category, for youngsters aged six and under, seven to 12 or 13-18, will be chosen by a panel of judges and the winner will get a £50 voucher to help celebrate the royal birthday. A selection of top drawings and paintings will also appear in the Daily Echo.

We can’t promise that the winning portraits will hang in in the National Gallery or Buckingham Palace, but they will have pride of place in the Daily Echo’s show of loyalty to The Queen on this special occasion.

Make sure you include your name, address and age in your entry so we know who to credit and which age group to put you in.

Send your entries to picdesk@dailyecho.co.uk or mail them Paint the Queen, c/o Anne Dickie, PA to the Editor, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, SO16 9JX.