Chris Packham, right, with former RSPCA chief photographer Andrew Forsyth

Packham said: ‘With school summer holidays stretching out ahead of us, the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards is the perfect boredom-buster for children.

‘They could win a brilliant prize for taking a photo of their favourite animal – whether that’s a shot of a snail in the garden, a portrait of the family pooch or a snap of a sheep in a field.’

The overall winner will receive a weekend photography break.

Category winners will pocket Wex Photographic vouchers, and the winners of the three age categories will get the chance to go on a photo shoot at the RSPCA centre.

Finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony, to be hosted by Packham at the Tower of London in December.

Packham adds: ‘Don’t worry, you don’t need an expensive camera to take part. If you are 18 and under, just get snapping and visit www.rspca.org.uk/ypa for more information about the categories and how to enter.’

The closing date is 25 August 2014.