Teenager turns down animation job

The teenager's films have impressed Aardman Animations

Bridlington filmmaker Lewi Firth Bolton has turned down his dream job with the Oscar-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit - because he is only 14.

Inspired by the animation series, the teenager started making films in his bedroom three years ago.

He recently submitted some of his work to Aardman Animations and was surprised when the company offered him a job.

The teenager said he was pondering whether to accept the offer in the future or develop his own company.

'Rang me up'

He said: "The last film I sent down they were very, very impressed with and they didn't know how old I was.

"They rang me up, offering me to go down and work for them as a career."

Lewi makes his films with only a digital stills camera and each second of animation requires 24 frames. For a minute of footage he has to reposition his models almost 1,500 times.

The teenager said: "I am home educated and my parents teach me so we cover the basics and I can do the animation in my free time."

His first film, The Wardrobe, has won several awards. He is now working on a follow-up called Mr Hatten Bugleperp and the Great Hat Heist, a comedy about a man who steals hats.