A PUPIL from Shebbear College was a winner among thousands of people who entered a competition . . . to paint a giant frog!

Ezmay Jopling from Jacobstowe coloured a picture of a frog in a competition run by World AIMS, a support organisation for Methodist foundation schools.

Ezmay, who based her theme on rainforest fires, said she coloured the frog in, oblivious to the fact that the winner would have to paint a giant, 3D version.

The giant frog arrived shortly after she heard she had won. 'My sister, two friends and I painted it. He really did look amazing. I am so pleased with my achievement, but was sad to see him go. I would like to thank the people who selected me to win and to those who contributed to painting him,' said Ezmay.

A total of 12,500 people entered the competition and Ezmay was the winner from the Eco-shools category.

The frog has been sent to Buckingham Palace where it will attend a party held by Prince Charles with other frogs designed by the likes of Paul McCartney and Vivienne Westwood. Ezmay's frog will then spend eight weeks at the National Geographic store on Regents Street in London before making his way down to the Eden Project for a further eight weeks. It will then return to Shebbear College.