IF, like me, you are a bit of a humbug and find you appreciate Christmas cards less and less every year, then meeting the people who created them can be a salutary reminder that there's hard work involved.

At Fulford School, a Young Enterprise group of 14 Year 12 students have got together to set up their own business - Yorcard - making Christmas cards to sell around York.

Leading the initiative are managing director Lydia Pitts, 16, 16-year-old sales manager Jonathan Falshaw, finance director James Washington, 17, and operations manager, Edward White, 16.

They organised a competition for pupils in Years 7 to 11 to design a Christmas card. A winner from each year was chosen, and all five winning designs have been turned into cards.

Elvington-based company Colour Options printed 500 cards, which will now be sold to raise money for the Oxfam Unwrapped scheme, helping families make a living in Third World countries.

Lydia said: "We sold about 70 packs at the school fair at the weekend. Everyone was amazed at how professional they are and a lot of people saying they looked like they'd been designed to be together."

Anything from farming equipment and saplings and seeds to a goat or a donkey can be brought through Oxfam Unwrapped.

James said: "At the end of it all, we'd like to come away with around £600 for Oxfam Unwrapped from the sale of the cards."

Deputy head Lorna Savage is overseeing the project and has been impressed by the youngsters' determination.

She said: "I am thrilled with the quality of the cards. They are fantastic and it has been a real team effort.

"We are hoping this will become an annual thing now.

"A letter has been sent out to parents detailing the Oxfam Unwrapped site at www.oxfamunwrapped.com and letting them know about the cards."

Each pack contains ten cards of two designs, costing £3.50 per pack or £6 for two packs.

Packs are available from the school reception and will also be available from Brown's, in York. They can be viewed online on the school's website www.fulford.york.sch.uk