DARWEN artist Adrian Rigby scooped two top awards at a prestigious London art show.

Adrian, from Tockholes village, was among 180 artists who fought for four awards in the Wildlife Arts Society's exhibition at Westminster Central Hall.

His winning watercolour of a giant panda earned him a trophy and £1,000, and his paintings of a falcon and two scarlet macaws helped him bag the best newcomer prize.

Modest Adrian said: "I didn't expect to win as I only joined the Society in February. It's a wonderful achievement.

"It was incredible being among artists who are internationally successful. Offers have now flooded in from publishers worldwide. I've a lot to think about.

"It's like suddenly becoming number one in the pop charts!"

He donated some prize money to the Diane Fossey Mountain Gorillas Foundation, a campaign close to his heart.

He explained: "The situation is desperate due to the civil war in Rwanda where the mountain gorillas live. Poachers now have automatic weapons, not just machetes like in the film Gorillas In The Mist.

"There are only 650 gorillas left, and the equivalent of three football fields of forest is destroyed every month."

Even closer to Adrian's heart is his local parish church of St Stephens. The talented artist has designed a limited edition commemorative plate for Darwen Tower's centenary next year and proceeds will go to the church.

He said: "The church always has a good attendance but it's a struggle paying for repairs. The central heating needs upgrading and the roof needs repairing."

You can order a plate from the church or from Halifax Building Society on Borough Street, Darwen, priced £17.50.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.