Fourteen-year-old Matteo De Oliveira, from Hampton Wick, has claimed first place in the junior section in the annual Royal Parks photography competition.

The wildlife enthusiast, who is able to recognise many bird calls, took a picture of an endangered Skylark in nearby Bushy Park.

Matteo said: "I was just walking around in the park near some open grasses, where I knew there were skylarks.

"I heard one singing and I was just following them around from a distance until one perched on the sign that said, 'Do not disturb the skylarks'.

"I dropped down to the bird's eye level and composed the shot to have the sign in the image. It was funny and a bit ironic that there was a skylark right next to the sign."

The competition was part of The Royal Parks' ongoing mission to Keep Wildlife Wild, whereby the charity encourages the millions of people who visit London's eight Royal Parks to observe wildlife in its natural habitat rather than touching or feeding them.

Earlier this year, as part of this initiative, the charity partnered with The Urban Birder, David Lindo, to run free bird watching sessions across the parks.

David was on the panel of judges and joining him were Nigel Jackman, Chair of the Richmond Park Bird Group, Pete Lawrence, Biodiversity Manager for The Royal Parks and Mike Turner, Assistant Park Manger for St James's Park.

The winner of the top prize was Haringey resident Andrew Palmer with a photo which captured great crested grebes performing their iconic courting ritual against the backdrop of the Serpentine Bridge in London's Hyde Park.

Nigel Jackman, Chair of the Richmond Park Bird Group, said the winning grebes photo reminded him of a painting: "I love this picture. The composition is wonderful, and it just reminds me of a watercolour painting. I could picture it on my wall."