A CANVEY schoolgirl is set to star in a new animated series after winning a nationwide competition.

Theia Pearce, who attends Northwick Park Primary and Nursery Academy, was named as one of six environmentally-minded youngsters to narrate Clean Our Planet: Energy of Change.

Five-year-old Theia was selected after a six-month process which spanned 40,000 families and she was filled with joy after landing the role.

“I am excited that I will help people stop hurting the animals,” said Theia, who was the youngest competition winner.

“I love the animals and they help us too. I think it’s going to be funny hearing my voice on a cartoon. I hope I’m good enough!”

Theia’s success comes after having a keen interest in the environment from a young age.

But Theia, of The Redwoods, Canvey, only entered the competition after seeing a lookalike in an advertisement.

And the talented youngster’s mum, Taylor Challiss, was bursting with pride after discovering Theia had fought off the competition.

“I’m amazingly proud of Theia and it was definitely unexpected,” said Taylor.

“Theia was only two when she first asked me about why there was litter.

“We saw the litter around the lake on our way to pre-school and we ended up taking the litter with us!

“She only entered the competition after my mum tagged me in a post advertising it on Facebook.

“The little girl in the advert looked like Theia, so we decided she should enter.

“She is very excited but found it difficult when she found out she had won because she had to keep it secret for the first week.”

Run by Clean Planet Energy and partnered by the UK’s leading child talent agency Scallywags, competition entrants were asked to create a short video about how they are helping protect the planet.

And Taylor cannot wait to hear her daughter in the new animation series.

“It’s going to be strange hearing Theia’s voice,” added Taylor.

“I think it’s amazing for a five-year-old to be asked to do it and I have helped her with her speech, so that makes me proud as well.

“People always think Theia is older than she is because of how well she speaks.”