A TALENTED young artist, from Helmshore, has won a national colouring competition.

Seven-year-old Theo Braithwaite beat thousands of other entries with his colourful Easter scene after his mum, Deborah, spotted a call for entries at Patricia’s Floral Fair, in Rawtenstall.

Deborah had called into the shop to collect flowers for her sister’s birthday, and decided to take an entry form for the colouring competition to keep Theo occupied.

Not only did artistic Theo, who lives with dad Colin, and brothers Matthew, 16, and James, 18, beat more than 200 entries to win the local heat of the competition at Patricia’s, he also went on to be crowned overall winner in the national Interflora competition.

Kevin Swain, owner of Patricia’s, said: “Theo’s entry stood out straight away. It was really bright, and just came to life as you looked at it.”

Judges at Interflora agreed and, in addition to his prizes of £10 of Easter goodies and a bunch of flowers for his mum from Patricia’s, Theo took home a brand new iPad.

The youngster, who goes to St Veronica’s RC Primary School, said: “I was really excited to win, and just kept jumping up and down when I found out I’d won the iPad.”

Theo’s artwork now has pride of place in the window of Patricia’s, in Bank Street.