Perfectly timed London Underground mouse fight image wins People's Choice at Wildlife Photographer of the Year

More than 28,000 people voted to crown ‘Station Squabble’ as this year’s winning image

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The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has named the winner of its Lumix People’s Choice Award – a perfectly timed snap of two mice fighting over scraps on the London Underground.

Station Squabble, taken by British wildlife photographer and filmmaker Sam Rowley, was the result of long nights spent laying on train platforms around the UK capital trying to capture the right moment.

“I’m so pleased to win this award,” Rowley said. “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.”

The photographer said the image was captured a split-second before one of the mice ran off with a scrap of food left on the platform. Rowley's entry was one of 25 to be shortlisted in the competition, which receives thousands of entries each year.

More than 28,000 people voted for Station Squabble, but the Lumix People's Choice Award recognised four other entries as "highly commended", including Aaron Gekoski's portrait of an orangutan being forced to perform in a boxing ring; Michel Zoghzhogi's image of a jaguar and her cub carrying an anaconda; Martin Buzora's portrait of a conservation ranger nose to nose with a baby black rhino; and Francis De Andres's all-white shot of a herd of Arctic reindeer.

Scroll through our gallery above to see all 25 finalists

The 56th competition is being judged by a panel of experts, and the winners will be revealed in October. ‘Station Squabble’, alongside the 24 other finalists, will be on display at London’s Natural History Museum until Sunday, May 31.