A council worker is calling on anyone with a pen and paper to get their creative juices flowing and help round up 10,000 urban foxes.

Illustration student Elena Iezzi, who is currently working for Richmond Council’s arts service, has launched a campaign to gather thousands of drawings of the nocturnal garden visitor for a grand exhibition.

She is urging anyone who has ever seen a fox to sketch it and send her the picture.

Miss Iezzi, from Whitton, was told by tutors in Brighton to come up with a design project under the theme “abundance” and after scouring the internet for inspiration the Hounslow Road resident decided to raise awareness about the mass population of city foxes - estimated to be 10,000 in London.

She said: “I was going to work on the project by myself, drawing 10,000 foxes.

“My brother reminded me that I would have to draw something like 100 foxes a day before I could go back to Brighton, and I realised that 10,000 versions of the same drawing wouldn't be a very inspiring project.

“I want everyone who hears about the project to be imaginative and creative, I like the idea of each person representing each fox.

“I think it's funny when people say 'oh but I can't really draw', anyone can take part whether or not they're an artist.”

Miss Iezzi created a Facebook group called “10,000 foxes”, which has 249 members, to promote the plan and has already received support from pupils at her old school, St Mary's, who have been busy sketching.

She continued: “The reaction has been great so far, everyone I've spoken to has been really enthusiastic about it, I'm actually surprised at the response.

“Some people are keeping sketchbooks at work and getting people to complete a page, which is a really good idea.

“I've got a modest collection of about 250 drawings, but every single one counts.”

There will be an online exhibition of the final collection and Miss Iezzi hopes to find an exhibition space in the capital that she can cover in fox pictures.

To take part email your drawing to elena-rose@hotmail.com or post them to 134 Hounslow Road, Whitton, TW2 7HB.