AN Oswaldtwistle man has been named Photographer of the Year in a prestigious national competition.

Paul Deaville won the Lightportraiture Fuji Platinum Award based on the high quality of his work over a 12-month period in three categories.

Paul, who has been a photographer in Blackburn for 34 years, also won the Wedding Section outright, which gave him another Platinum Award.

The photographs he entered in the competition were all taken for customers through his studio at Brownhill, Blackburn.

Paul said: "All of the images that I entered were taken for existing customers and were not taken for my competition entries.

"I believe that competitions should represent my everyday work.

"That's because I demand very high standards for my customers.

"I am especially delighted with these awards as the standard of the competititors' images was high."

The Lightportraiture Group is a nationwide group of professional photographers who work together to improve the quality of their output.