A NORTHWOOD schoolgirl has scooped a prestigious prize in a national art competition with a sculpture of a 12-foot-high Chihuahua.

The award winning work, entitled Jordan and depicting a massive dog with a bag of Barbie and Ken dolls in its mouth, won the competition which was hosted by the Saatchi Gallery in London.

Louise Kerr, a Year 13 pupil from Northwood School, was overwhelmed when she found out her sculpture had been selected as the winning entry by a judging panel comprising such eminent names as Stephen Fry, Mariella Frostrup, Tracy Emin, Nigella Lawson and Damon Alban.

The concept behind the picture was a comment on how famous people use animals as fashion accessories.

Louise said she was inspired after hearing how Peter Andre had bought Jordan a pet dog that she carried everywhere.

She said: "I just took this concept and completely reversed the role.

"The sculpture is about the message the idea behind it is as important as the art itself."

The prize money awarded for winning the national competition was a total of £10,000, £2,500 of which goes to Louise to enable her to buy a new Apple Mac computer.

The other £7,500 goes to the art department at the school.

The money will be used by the school to set up an award scheme, named after Louise, for future successful art students at the school.

The remainder will go towards updating the computer facilities in the department.

Maxine Nichols is head of the art department and was delighted when Louise's piece was announced as the winning entry out of more than 100 entered.

She said: "It is just phenomenal that Louise has won this prize.

"All the students did exceptionally well in their projects and we couldn't decide which piece to enter so we held a private viewing and asked students, teachers and governors to choose.

"The chihuahua was picked and we entered it."

As the sculpture is so big it will not be possible to exhibit it in the Saatchi gallery, but other pieces of Louise's work will be on display at an exhibition in June.

Headteacher Carol Ketley praised Louise for her triumph.

She said: "We are very proud of Louise for achieving this success but we were unsurprised, as our art department has always achieved high standards and Louise's achievement is testament to this.

"As a Business and Enterprise College, this is just the kind of enterprise that we wish to promote."

As for the fate of the chihuahua, Louise is unsure.

She said: "I am so proud of it but it wouldn't fit in my parents' house, and the school may not be able to keep it here indefinitely, so I don't know what will happen to it in the end.

"It is very special to me so I want it to go to a good home, perhaps a gallery will want it, or a private collector."