A Foundation degree Graphics and Digital Media student is over the moon after being chosen to help illustrate a new children's book.

Maria Tydd has brought the colourful character 'Thugs Bunny' to life for the masterpiece called 'The Adventures of Thugs Bunny.'

The book has been written by former primary school teacher Lee Allen who contacted South Cheshire College's Creative and Applied Arts department to see if students could help out with the illustrations.

The Foundation degree group were given a live brief to come up with drawings and their interpretation of 'Thugs Bunny' which could be used on the book's cover and inner pages.

Lee came into college to view all the entries and chose Maria's work because she felt it was the best representation of the character.

Lee said: "I live locally and when my first attempts to get someone to illustrate the book were unsuccessful, I approached the College's art department to see if they could help.

"The students were asked to create an illustration for the character Thugs Bunny and from the final entries I was looking for an illustration of how I imagine the character, with its lively personality, would look.

"I'm pleased to be able to select Maria's work from the group and hopefully, the project has given the students some valuable experience at the same time."

The Adventures of Thugs Bunny is currently being proof read but Lee, who also runs a bakery in Haslington, near Crewe, is hoping it will be popular with young children when it's published.

Lee presented Maria with £100 and will now work closely with Lee to refine the artwork and illustrate the rest of the book.

Maria said: "I'm really chuffed to win the prize and it has been a very enjoyable project.

"Illustration is something I'd like to do as a future career so projects like this are a brilliant way to practice and give us the opportunity to work to a live brief."

The Graphics and Digital Media group work on a number of live projects for external clients and businesses throughout the year.

In January, they celebrated the unveiling of artwork which they produced to be displayed in Expert Logistic's new distribution headquarters in Crewe.