AN artist with a wild imagination from has won a new bug hotel for her school.

Duncombe Sawmill in Helmsley celebrated its 15th anniversary by running a competition giving local children the chance to win a handcrafted prize for their school. Schools within Ryedale were invited to get their Year Two pupils to design a brand new bug who could take up residence in the specially created wildlife hotel.

Fiona Wang from Kirkbymoorside Primary School won first place, which included delivery of the bug hotel for her school, a box of chocolates and a £10 book token.

Second and third place were taken by Izabelle Combe from Nawton Primary and Alfie Williamson at Seamer and Irton Primary, with each winning a £10 book token.

Duncombe Sawmill has been based in Helmsley for more than 100 years but was taken over 15 years ago by current owner Emma Woods. The sawmill uses locally sourced FSC timber to create gates, fencing, outdoor furniture and timber framed buildings using traditional woodworking techniques.

Angela Collier, who works at the Sawmill and delivered the prize to Kirkbymoorside School, said: “We wanted to do something special to mark the 15-year anniversary, and we love making bug hotels as somewhere safe for all kinds of important wildlife, from bees and woodlice, to hedgehogs and toads. The bugs the children created were amazing – clearly a lot of time, effort and imagination had gone into them all, and it was a tough decision for our owner Emma to decide on the winner.

"Congratulations to Fiona for her fantastic creation, and all the entrants for really brightening up our day with their colourful, and sometimes quite cuddly looking, creepy crawlies.”