Two youngsters scooped national awards after responding to a 'design a futuristic pet cage' competition organised by UK manufacturer of Small Animal products, Supreme Petfoods.

From the 820 entries received, Sam Blumsom, 7 a pupil at Edlesborough School near Dunstable and Jessica Husband, 9 from Arrowcrest First School in Redditch both won �400 for their schools and �25 book vouchers for themselves.

In addition, Supreme presented both Sam and Jessica with specially commissioned replicas of their cage designs. Sam's design was The Hamster House - and he took inspiration from the Millennium Dome, using different areas for different activities of playing, sleeping and eating. With wooden trees, spinning wheels, tubes, ladders and a mini hanging tyre, Sam's creation won the 5-7 year olds age group.

Jessica used her imagination of all things space age when she designed The Rat Rocket, with different compartments for sleeping, playing and eating. The space age structure also incorporated tunnels, spinning wheels and ladders to win the 7-9 year olds age group. Both cages are now being put to use by real life pets.

Supreme's cuddly Russel Rabbit and Group Marketing Manager Ann Tenison were on hand to present the children with their prizes at school assemblies, that were specially arranged to celebrate the youngsters' wins.

Ann added ' Sam and Jessica had really thought about the animals that they had designed the cages for, in addition to the cages being futuristic. They both incorporated all the elements which are essential to small animal well-being - lots of room to play, eat, drink and sleep safely. As the UK's leading manufacturer, we take our responsibility to small animals very seriously and we are delighted that we could play a part in helping to educate so many young children to look after their pets.'

The winning cage designs:

(Click on the pictures to see the text on the reverse side of the competition entries.)

The finished cages with the winners:

(Click on the pictures below to see more detailed pictures of the finished cages.)

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