A coat of arms designed by a schoolgirl from Riccall is to feature in battle as part of a huge historic festival.

Maya Birch’s coat of arms design Vitam Meam (My Life) was selected as the winner from more than 50 designs to feature in promotions for the second annual Yorkshire Medieval Festival, which runs until August 30.

The competition to design the coat of arms was run by festival organisers York Archaeological Trust in partnership with York Theatre Royal. Danielle Daglan, head of events and hospitality at York Archaeological Trust, said: “We had more than 50 brilliant competition entries from children in York and the surrounding areas, which made choosing a winner a very difficult task.

“In the end, Maya’s design stood out as a carefully considered piece of artwork, representing what is important in her life. We felt that the design was very well executed, and we thought the Latin quote “my life” was a lovely, thoughtful detail.”

Maya’s prize includes four tickets to The Legend Of King Arthur production at York Theatre Royal; free family access to the Barley Hall medieval townhouse in York and its Plague, Poverty & Prayer exhibition: A Horrible History exhibition; two tickets to a heraldry workshop at the theatre to make a shield featuring her winning design and a medieval goody bag, including a signed Terry Deary book.

Maya, aged 11, said: “My design was a randomised blend of my life on a page. I was exhilarated to know I had won.”