A mum-of-two is through to the final stage of an international gardening competition, aimed at raising awareness of child malnutrition in the South American Andes.

The Growing For Change contest, run by aid agency World Vision, called on gardening enthusiasts to upload pictures of their homegrown vegetables on to the internet, where members of the public could vote for their favourite.

Alison Rance, of Gilstead, Bingley, entered a picture of vegetables grown with the help of her children Lois, six and Calum, three, and is one of 14 entrants shortlisted in the competition.

A panel of judges from a remote community in Bolivia will decide the winner, who will receive £500 in gardening equipment.

Mrs Rance said: “It was such a nice surprise to hear my picture has got through to the final of the competition, and I can’t wait to hear the judges’ decision.

“Our family sponsors a little boy who lives in Bolivia, and I wanted my own children to learn how difficult it can be for some families to get fresh vegetables. I hope it teaches them not to take what they have for granted.”

Bolivia is South America’s poorest country, around 11,500 children are believed to die each year from causes related to malnutrition.