A SNAP-HAPPY, animal-loving youngster has scooped two prizes in a prestigious national competition.
Twelve-year-old Sam Runge was the only entrant to win two prizes in the Zoological Society of London's annual wildlife photography awards.
His captivating shots of a shy-looking lemur, which he called Hide And Seek, and a snail photographed as if in mid-air, won him two £250 prizes.
Although Sam only entered five pictures in the competition, another of his efforts – an image of a colourful pheasant – won him a "highly acclaimed" accolade.
Sam, a pupil at Warlingham School, went with his mum and dad to London Zoo in Regent's Park last month to collect his prizes.
The youngster, who lives in Caterham, said: "I thought they had got the wrong person when I heard I had won two categories.
"My winning photos and the other winners were all displayed on giant, lit-up blocks.
"And we were told that if we went into the zoo shop our pictures could be purchased.
"It was a great experience.
"When I leave school I would love to become a wildlife photographer, maybe for the National Geographic magazine."
Sam's head teacher, Alison Woodhouse, said: "I'm delighted for him. Its nice to see a hidden talent win such acclaim.
"Part of the strapline on our prospectus reads 'widening horizons ... raising aspirations'.
"Sam shows that it is not merely academic activity that is important."
Among the dozen other winning photographs, submitted from all over the country, was a picture of a baby gorilla, and a fish-eating crocodile gliding across the water.
Sarah Barron, events manager for the Zoological Society of London, said: "We were blown away by the calibre of images submitted by Sam and the other entrants.
"He and they have captured some truly amazing shots which will challenge people's perception of the animal kingdom."
The prize-winning works can be viewed at London Zoo until the end of the year.
