A YOUNG Droitwich girl's image has helped a top photographer clinch a national award.

Photographer Vanessa Tombs received a merit award in a prestigious photographic competition after capturing this image of two-year-old Martha Stead, from Droitwich.

The Envisage Photography Awards are run by leading photographic company Fujifilm and winning a merit award is a great accolade for any photographer.

Stourbridge-based Vanessa receives a certificate and her image now goes forward to the final, where a grand prize of £1,000 is up for grabs. The cash prize will be presented to the subject of the winning image, and the overall winning photographer wins a trophy. Vanessa said she was delighted to receive such recognition.

"It's always nice for your work to get recognition, and while I was hopeful that the image I submitted might do well, I was still amazed to hear that I had won. I've got my fingers crossed that I go on to win the overall prize now," she said.

Other examples ofVanessa's work can be seen at www.vanessatombs photography.co.uk