AN amateur photographer and animal lover is delighted to see his work travel across the country as Royal Mail release their latest range of stamps.

Les Stocker, founder of animal hospital Tiggywinkles in Haddenham, was amazed to discover Royal Mail had picked his photograph of a brown long-eared bat to feature on their mammals stamp collection.

The special stamps are part of the Action for Species range and feature ten photographs of mammals from the sperm whale to the dormouse.

Mr Stocker, who is chief executive officer for the animal charity, said his picture was chosen after he sent it to a photography agency.

He said: “It is great news. It is once in a lifetime- you can't predict it.

“My photography is something that has come on over the years. I am not a great photographer- I don't know what I am doing really.

“I think it is about the quality of the camera and the lens.”

Photos were taken at Tiggywinkles of two of their residents- a hedgehog and a polecat- as part of the publicity for the range.

Mr Stocker said he took his picture when he went to a house in Aylesbury which called the charity after they found bats in their home.

He added: “It is all very exciting. I went up to London yesterday on behalf of Tiggywinkles to the launch of the range.”