Ten-year-old Haslemere artist Olek Pilat-Khazanbeik has been named as a winner of an art competition voted for by local people.

Almost 750 people took part in the online vote, part of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Wild Surrey Art and Photography Competition.

Olek’s painting of a ‘Happy Hedgehog’ secured him the win in the six to 12 years old category.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me; it still doesn’t seem real that I actually won the People’s Choice Award. It’s going to give me a huge confidence boost and make me want to become an even better artist.

“By choosing to submit a painting of a hedgehog, I wanted to spread the knowledge that these cute animals are disappearing quickly and we should all do something to protect them.”