TWO young brothers have launched a charity art competition to help save endangered animals.

Milo and Dante Houghland, aged eight and five, began their ‘Art for Animals’ project after becoming concerned for the future for orangutans in Borneo and giant pandas in China.

They held the first part of the competition with their friends from Woodheys Primary School in Sale and the artwork was put on display at the Bean and Brush Family Art Café - where new competition entries will continue to be displayed over the summer.

Milo and Dante’s mother, Orietta Lorenzini, said: "It has been fantastic to see all the different artwork created by the children for such a good cause.

"It is a great way for them to express themselves and we would love for more children to join in. I'm so proud of my boys for starting this."

So far, Milo and Dante have raised a total of £512 for the Orangutan Appeal UK (OAUK) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

With the help of their mother, they also gained support from the UK Ambassador of Orangutan Appeal UK, Jacha Potgieter, who visited pupils at Woodheys to raise awareness of orangutans in need.

While on the visit, Mr Potgieter, an artist and environmentalist, worked with two classes to make a recycled junk Orangutan sculpture. This is now on display in the café.

Milo and Dante and their friends from Woodheys now hope to inspire other children in Sale and Altrincham to enter the competition and create their own animal themed art.

Prizes are sponsored by Bean and Brush and Orangutan Appeal UK and include an Orangutan Baby Adoption pack.

More information about the scheme can be found at the website: http://savepandasandorangutans.simplesite.com/.

The competition closing date is August 31, at 6pm. Entry forms can be collected at the Bean and Brush and donations can be made at the café or online via the project webpage

Pictured with Milo and Dante are Liam Sinnott, Benjamin Clark, Evangeline Streeter, Oscar Johnston, Cherisa Seth, Eryn Walton, Claudia Whitwell, Eden & Amber Liew, Monet Williams, Alex Rush, Francesca Grindrod, Adam Akbar.