THE search for a little girl who beat more than 250 other youngsters in a drawing competition is over.

Esme Mellor-France, nine, from Brighton, was chosen as the winner of DJ Norman Cook’s snail colouring challenge.

The contest, run in conjunction with the Martlets Snailspace fundraising art trail, invited young artists to colour pictures of the marvellous molluscs and hang them on the wall at Cook’s Big Beach Cafe in Hove Lagoon.

Norman picked out Esme’s design as the best – but the organisers could not track her down.

So he asked The Argus to put out an appeal so she could claim her prize – and Esme’s parents got in touch.

Esme’s eye-catching snail featured a host of landmarks from across the city.

Norman, best known as DJ Fatboy Slim, said: “I thought the design was topical, local and colourful.

“Remarkable artistic fluency for a nine-year-old.”

Esme, of Fiveways, Brighton, was busy with school commitments and so was unable to talk to The Argus about her win.

But her mother Romy France said: “She was really surprised, really shocked and really happy.

“She always wants to get involved in anything arty.

“She didn’t realise it was a competition, but she loves art so much that she does it wherever she can.

“We didn’t know she had won until people started messaging us over the weekend.

“Something like this will really boost her and show she can do art outside of school.

“We were really excited about Norman Cook picking her and we told her all about him.”

Esme’s prize is an ice cream party at the Big Beach Cafe.

Roberta Woodhouse, who works at the cafe, said: “We’re thrilled she’s been found.

“Her design stood out to Norman because it was all about Brighton.

“She had the buses, the West Pier and beach and pebbles.

“We can’t wait to welcome Esme down here with all her friends for ice cream and hot chocolate.”

The 50 molluscs that made up the Martlets Snailspace have now been removed from the streets of Brighton and Hove after delighting residents and tourists since they were installed in September.

People have a last chance to see them all at a farewell event at the St Augustine’s Centre in Stanford Avenue, Brighton, over the weekend of Friday,

November 30, to Sunday, December 2.

They will then be auctioned off and it is hoped they will raise at least £20,000 for the Martlets’ vital work with terminally ill people and their families.