Picture of two mice 'brawling' in subway station wins top photography prize

A picture of two mice appearing to "brawl" over scraps of food on a London subway station platform has won a top photography prize.

Wildlife photographer Sam Rowley's 'Station Squabble' had been crowned the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People’s Choice award after more than 28,000 nature photography fans voted on a shortlist of 25 images.

Per the Daily Mail, the shortlist of 25 images came from an initial 48,000 submissions.

Rowley, from Bristol, England, revealed that he captured the urban wildlife shot after patiently lying on a subway platform and waiting for the rodents to appear. After which, the mice scraped for mere seconds, before one of them grabbed a crumb and scurried away.

Responding to the prize on social media, Rowley wrote on Instagram: "Phew!!! What a morning. Delighted to hear I've won Wildlife Photographer of the Year's People's Choice Award! Dream come true."

According to The Evening Standard, Michael Dixon, the director of the Natural History Museum said: "Sam's image provides a fascinating glimpse into how wildlife functions in a human-dominated environment. The mice's behavior is sculpted by our daily routine, the transport we use and the food we discard.

"This image reminds us that while we may wander past it every day, humans are inherently intertwined with the nature that is on our doorstep - I hope it inspires people to think about and value this relationship more."

You never know what you're going to find on the subway. This is the moment a group of train passengers bursts into song with a performance of Backstreet Boys' 'I Want It That Way':

Meanwhile, Sam said of his well-deserved award: "I am so pleased to win this award. It's been a lifetime dream to succeed in this competition in this way, with such a relatable photo taken in such an everyday environment in my hometown. I hope it shows people the unexpected drama found in the most familiar of urban environments."

Speaking of the rodents that can be found in London's tube stations, Sam said: "These mice only know the constant roar of trains and perpetual darkness. Most won't have ever seen daylight or felt grass under their feet.

"The tunnels are a desperate place to live if they need to have a boxing match over a tiny little crumb."