AN AWARD for young artists has been launched in memory of former Romsey MP Michael Colvin.

Test Valley Arts Foundation has launched the Colvin Young Artists' Award in honour of the MP who died with his wife Nichola when fire swept through their Hampshire mansion in February 2000.

Mr Colvin, who lived at Tangley, near Andover, was the foundation's former chairman.

The annual award was donated by his daughter, Amanda Ponsonby, in memory of her parents.

Mrs Ponsonby said: "Not only was my father an ardent supporter of Test Valley Arts Foundation, but as a keen artist himself I know he would be delighted that this award will help young artists to develop their skills and gain the same enjoyment from art as he did."

A spokesman for Test Valley Arts Foundation said: "This award continues Michael Colvin's work in supporting the arts in Test Valley, to which he was unstintingly dedicated."

The award - with a prize of up to £1,000 - is open to artists aged 20-26 at the outset of their careers.

Applicants can be working in any art form, with the prize awarded for materials, research or a specific project, except in the case of university or academic research.

The foundation has launched two other new awards - the Morrison Music Award, designed to help serious musicians aged 25 or under, and the TVAF Open Access Award, which is open to individual artists, groups or organisations in any art form, with no age restrictions.

The awards, launched with the support of Test Valley council, are designed to encourage individual artists, arts groups and organisations in the borough to develop challenging and innovative new work, and to support young artists just starting out on their professional career.

For more information about the awards and how to apply for a grant, send an A4-size stamped, self-addressed envelope to the development officer at Test Valley Arts Foundation, c/o Test Valley Borough Council, Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, SP10 3AJ.