A Mill Hill schoolgirl's winning design for a computer mouse mat has been delivered to its new home on Microsoft boss Bill Gates's desk in Seattle.

Twelve-year-old Katie Andrews of Copthall Girls School won a national design competition run by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Microsoft.

She was presented with a mouse mat signed by the Microsoft chief the first off the production line on Tuesday in Mill Hill.

The competition was part of the NSPCC's Schools Appeal, which aims to raise £2million.

"It's amazing. It was a simple design and I didn't think I would win. I wanted to make the point that you should give money to children that need it," said Katie.

Teachers at Copthall Girls School are equally delighted the competition prize is £1,000 of Microsoft computer software for the school.

Katie's classmates also received mouse mats, which will be used by staff in Microsoft's UK offices.

The school raised a total of just under £4,000 for the appeal. Fundraising activities were designed by the Nspcc to complement the national curriculum and aim to give children of all ages advice about staying safe. Proceeds will go towards the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign, aiming to end child cruelty.

November 28, 2001 19:27