FAITH Hocking, a pupil at Park Junior in Stonehouse, has won the Gloucestershire Young Photographer of the Year competition for a picture of litter in a bin outside the school.

Faith, 10, who received a prize of £50, said: "I was amazed that I won, I did not realise it was such a good photo."

This year saw a record 509 participants enter the contest, run by Cheltenham Camera Club, with 30 primary schools and 19 secondary schools taking part.

All Year 6 pupils at Park Junior School entered after being taught about digital photography and then being let loose to take their own snaps.

Deputy headteacher Derk Van Den Broek said he was thrilled that one of his students had won.

"We are delighted and surprised by the fact that we have such talent among us," he said.

Dave Hyett, one of three judges involved in the competition, said: "We were looking for photography skills in terms of creativity, empathy with the subject and the photographers individual interpretation.

"Often the younger photographers see things differently to adults and many are less constrained by the conventions which influence adult photographers."