HE'S a Hampshire wildlife expert who has spent decades writing and talking about nature.

Now resident and television presenter Chris Packham is helping to inspire young people to improve their environment with a specially-commissioned series of photographs.

The Southampton-born broadcaster has teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy and Lidl UK for the scheme, which is aimed at reducing litter and waste.

Packham turned his lens on neglected parts of the county and focused on the impact of litter on the natural environment.

He said: "People who litter are unwittingly helping to kill and injured the wildlife we all love.

"As a naturalist, I'm only too aware of mankind's impact on the natural world and littler is one very visible example of this.

"Not only is it unsightly but it seriously affects wild animals both on land and in our oceans.

"I was delighted to be asked to explore this issue through the camera lens, juxtaposing the inherent beauty of our natural world with the ugliness of the litter and rubbish left carelessly discarded each and every day.

"Through these images I hope to inspire people to dispose of their litter more responsibly and play their part in caring for the fabulously diverse wildlife that enriches us all."

Supermarket chain Lidl has committed to donating a minimum of £1million over a one-year period, with the proceeds from its single-use to be split equally between Keep Britain Tidy and cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Keep Britain Tidy hopes the photographs will encourage young people to go out and capture their own images of how litter impacts the world around them, and a nationwide photography competition will be launched later this year.

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: "We know that the majority of children and young people do care about their environment and don't drop litter.

"The support of Lidl, through the donation of proceeds from the single-use bag charge, will help us engage with those young people and create a generation of young people who not only care about their environment, but are also equipped to do something to help."