ANTICIPATION was in the air at Pilgrims' School last week as around 200 Winchester pupils gathered for the finals of a charity art competition.

Finalists from 12 local primary schools sat waiting for the results from the 'Birds in Flight' art competition, organised by the Cameron Bespolka Trust.

In total, 37 prizes were awarded, including bird feeders, a birdwatching book and other gifts fitting the theme of nature.

Overall winner, Danny Perrin from St. Bede’s, was awarded The Cameron Bespolka Art Award by Tom Burden, headmaster of Pilgrims' School, and Anneka Schofield from RSPB for his painting of a kingfisher.

Mr Burden said: "It is a pleasure to support the trust with this inspiring initiative that connects so many local primary school children with wildlife.

"Art is such a wonderful way to observe and appreciate nature.

"Pilgrims is delighted to host this art competition as Cameron was a former pupil here and it is a great way to team up with our local school community."

St. Bede’s also picked up the School Prize and were awarded a giant bag of bird seed, donated by Pets Corner.

Headteacher Sarah Duck said: "We work hard at St Bede CofE Primary School to promote a broad curriculum underpinned by a range of real life experiences.

"We were so impressed by the standard of work children produced and it was lovely that this was acknowledged through the prizes and commendations awarded to them."

The judges Sharon Harvey, Taha Afshar, Puff Morgan-Giles are all local artists and were joined by Jane Jenner, former head of art at Pilgrims.

Puff said: "The amount of entries and effort was so impressive.

"A wide variety of media was used, from detailed drawings and expressive paintings to mixed media and collage.

"It was obvious that the birds had been well observed."

All entries were displayed during the ceremony.

These were submitted by pupils from the following schools: St. Bede’s, Osborne, All Saints, St. Faith’s, Kings’, Oliver’s Battery, Weeke, St. Peter’s , St. Swithun’s, Prince’s Mead, The Pilgrims’ School and Stanmore Primary.