Retired scientific film-maker Gerald Thompson has received a prestigious wildlife award from Sir David Attenborough.

Mr Thompson, 81, travelled from his home near Long Hanborough to receive the Wild Screen Trust award for outstanding achievement at a ceremony in Bristol.

A lecturer in zoology at Oxford University, Mr Thompson set up Oxford Scientific Films in 1968, in a building at the end of his garden. The company became famous around the world for its wildlife photography.

Mr Thompson is now retired but the company still continues, with about 40 employees. Many of their stills are used in Sir David Attenborough's latest book for his BBC series The Life of Birds.

Mr Thompson said: "I wanted to share my knowledge with schools and universities so I rather rashly bought a camera in 1961 and set about filming small things like insects and spiders which had not been done before.

"After a few months, I solved several problems such as insufficient light, vibrations and high temperatures."

Mr Thompson's first film on wood wasps won him an award from the BBC aimed at amateur film makers and received worldwide acclaim. "Some young chaps from the university were interested in having a go and I encouraged them," he said.

In 1968 Mr Thompson resigned from his lecturing post and set up Oxford Scientific Films, where he worked until he retired 16 years ago.

He said: "I wanted to be a full-time film maker and they were the best years of my life. I was delighted to receive the award. It is always nice when something like this happens.

He added: "I still enjoy wildlife programmes and I am certainly watching Sir David Attenborough's latest series."

The Wild Screen Trust awards are made every other year. In 1996 the Duke of Edinburgh received the award for outstanding achievement for his work with WWF.

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