ARTWORK by talented Oxfordshire schoolchildren has gone on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Young Art Oxford raises money for Cancer Research UK and is now in its third year.

Since it started, the event has raised more than £12,000 for the cause.

This year, the theme was I Remember and about 1,000 children from 24 Oxfordshire schools submitted artwork for the exhibition, which went on display on Thursday.

Organiser Belinda Hanson said: “It’s a very clever concept of raising money and encouraging children to do more art at the same time.

“The idea is that it’s children helping other children.”

In all, 322 artworks by children aged between four and 14 were selected for the exhibition.

They include a mix of paintings, drawings and prints, and those displayed at the museum were chosen by illustrator and author Korky Paul, artist, teacher and author Sarah Simblett and pottery designer Emma Bridgewater.

Mrs Hanson said: “It’s an exciting event for the children because they see their work in a public venue.

“We were really delighted to raise £7,000 last year as well as getting lots of people enthusiastic about art, and we would like to raise a similar amount this year.”

The money is raised through the sale of postcards and the works of art themselves, and goes towards Cancer Research UK’s research into the genetic causes of cancer in children.

Three prize winners were selected in different age categories, reception to Year 3, Years 4 to 6, and Years 7 to 9.

The winner of the oldest age group was Max Bogotyrow, a Year 7 pupil at Magdalen College School, Oxford, while Theo Harman-Francis from The Dragon School, Oxford, won the Year 4 to 6 category and Leo Constantatos-Best took first place in the reception to Year 3 group.

Second places went to Sarah Gent, of Headington School, Thomas Johnson, of Tackley Primary School, and Lucy Oliver, of Wootton School, and third places were awarded to Daniel McGarry, who goes to St Joseph’s Primary School, Bethan Sennett, of Wychwood School, and Anoushka Ardizzone, of Forest Farm School.