HAMPSHIRE animal lovers have been invited to vote on the best animal snaps taken on a mobile phone as part of a national award.

The RSPCA has urged the public to choose their favourite in the RSPCA’s People’s Choice Award awards.

Cats, lizards and a caterpillar are among the fourteen images of animals snapped by young people on their mobile phones and tablets that have been submitted.

Hampshire TV naturalist Chris Packham has backed the ‘exciting’ vote.

Voting opened on Monday this week, and closes on Friday.

Chris Packham said: “It’s exciting to see the awards move with the times, with this year’s new mobile device category.

“It’s a great way of making the competition accessible to virtually everyone.

“It’s nice to see so many photos of day-to-day animals in such a strong competition.

“It needs real imagination to make commonplace species interesting, showing that the photographer has been really innovative.”

The awards were open to those 18 or younger.

Anita Morris, who organises the young photographer of the year awards said: “As so many young people have a mobile phone and thousands of creative pictures are taken everyday, we think this category opens up opportunities for those who perhaps wouldn’t normally enter a photography competition to share their best animal pictures.

“The images entered into the RSPCA People’s Choice Award are wonderful. These photos show bags of character, originality and really capture the personality of the animal.

“There are some really lovely images this year so we are handing the decision over to the public and giving them the chance to pick their favourite.

“Online surveys are the perfect vehicle for this and with just a couple of clicks it’s nice and easy to vote too.”

Voting closes at 4pm on Friday. One entry, pictured, was taken by 11-year-old Sophie Griffths from Hampshire.

There are three categories, from under 12s, 12-15s and 16-18-year-olds and is aimed from beginners to professionals.

To vote, visit bit.ly/YPAPeoplesChoice17. There are 14 images in total to choose from.