JASON Lythgoe-Hay's artistic talent finally bagged him a Blue Peter badge - but he had to wait 20 years to get it.

"I never managed to get one when I was a child but I have one now," said the 32-year-old graphic designer.

Jason begged show bosses for a badge after presenting them with a cartoon calendar he had designed.

"I was told they were only available to children under the age of 16 and asked why they weren't available to children of all ages - like me," he said.

So he got his badge and a job working for Blue Peter producing cartoons when the show needs someone to illustrate their storylines.

It all started when Jason sent a calendar in to the show - featuring the show's presenters in fun scenes.

"I always set myself a goal at the beginning of each year and this particular year I decided I wanted a Blue Peter badge.

"I'd always wanted one and never managed to get one so I decided to send the calendar in," he said.

The calendar was a huge success and became the official Blue Peter calendar for 2002 and Jason was approached to illustrate for the show.

"The previous illustrator had been doing the job for 40 years and wanted a rest. I was delighted to take over," he said.

He is regularly called on to illustrate everything from the history of blood donation to Easter specials.

"I love doing work for Blue Peter. It is great fun," said Jason, who lives in Deane.

He grew up watching Yvette Fielding, the late Caron Keating and Mark Curry and was an avid fan of Blue Peter.

Jason's favourite presenters have left the show but, he said, all Blue Peter presenters are as friendly as they appear on screen. "Matt Baker and Liz Barker were both really nice to work with."

Jason works at The Bolton News but does other freelance work for magazines, including Disney and the Dr Disaster cartoon in Zap magazine.

He will also be working on the new Country File magazine due out in October.

His talent was spotted early when he was just seven years old at Brandwood Street Primary School in Bolton.

"I was sent to the head and I wondered what I'd done wrong.

"But he asked me to re-draw something I'd done for homework as he obviously didn't think I could have drawn it," he said.

A personal art tutor - Jean Aspinall - was brought in to help hone Jason's talent but he was not interested.

"I had to stay in at play times and lunchtime to do my art and I didn't want to do that," he said.

Coincidentally when he went on to Hayward School, Jason's art teacher was Jean Aspinall. "She said she'd wondered when she might see me again," he said.

After leaving high school Jason went on to Bolton Institute and got involved in sculpture - a talent he has used both professionally and for his own personal use.

Jason has created snow scenes for Christmas grottos in shopping centres and has also built a replica Dalek and a Tardis in his spare time.

The full-size Tardis doubles as a wardrobe at home - and has appeared at an official Dr Who exhibition - and the Dalek is a great talking point when the neighbours pop round for drinks.

He also undertakes private commissions and draws caricatures of people and their pets.

  • To view a selection of Jason's work go to his website at www.jjlehay.com