Milliner Lucy Tammar has won a national award for designing a wacky chocolate box hat.

At the age of seven, Lucy won a Boy George look-alike competition after making hair plaits out of tights.

She has been creative with clothes and hats ever since and was dubbed Batty Hattie at school for her choice in fashion.

Lucy runs a thriving hat store in Brighton, where she counts the Princess of Luxembourg as a regular customer.

Actress Dawn French has also been known to browse around the shelves in the Hat Heaven, in Meeting House Lane.

Now Lucy, 26, has now won a top award for the chocolate box hat she made for local restaurant owner Sue Addis.

She was recognised by Hat Magazine as designer of the wittiest hat of the year.

Lucy, who works alongside her mother Tere, beat scores of other hatmakers to the title.

But she is certainly not resting on her laurels and will make a one-off, specially designed hat for a business or individual in return for a donation to the Argus Christmas Appeal.

Lucy's creative streak emerged at an early age. She used to parade in front of her mother and make herself outlandish clothes.

Lucy said: "I have always been around some really creative people. My mother makes hats and other things and my uncle is in that sort of field too.

"I was always creating things. I am obsessed and always have been. I cannot sit and watch TV without doing knitting or something to keep me occupied."

Lucy said: "Hats are all about fun and good times. My designs say: 'I'm alive, I'm here and I'm ready for life'. We're talking hattitude."

Her winning creation took a week to complete. She made the shape of a chocolate box and the chocolates from crushed velvet.

Lucy said: "It looks beautiful and exactly like truffles."

Bids for the Argus appeal hat start at £250 and should be made by Friday, January 5. The wackier the idea, the better.

To place your bid, call Lucy on 01273 774799.