A HEREFORD photography competition attracted entrants from as far afield as Argentina and California.

And Hereford College of Arts has now announced the winners of its annual Young Photographer of the Year competition.

Entries were judged by Hereford College of Arts Fellow and photographer John Bulmer, commercial photographer Nick Meers, and photography graduate and former Creative in Residence, Sophie Foulkes.

The theme of the competition was portraits- the winners were presented with their prizes last night (Wednesday).

Ms Foulkes said: “The standard of entries that we received to the competition this year was incredibly high, and judging was a huge challenge."

An exhibition of the entries is open until Friday, December 4 at HCA's Folly Lane campus from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays.

The winners are as follows. In the aged nine to 11 age group first prize went to Victor Ghose (9) from Eaton Square School; second prize to Iris Girvan (10) from Moreton Hall School and third prize to Stuart Watkinson (10) from Moreton Hall School. Hester Wilder (11) from John Masefield High School was highly commended and Sophie's favourite was named as Ned Vincent Pullen (10) from Burghill Community Academy.

In the aged 12 to 15 category James Lynch (12) from Bedstone College came first; Helen Assherton (14) from Moreton Hall came second and in third place was Annabel Parsons (13) from Moreton Hall School. Highly Commended was given to Emma Vivian (12) from Moreton Hall School and Sophie's Favourite was Queenie Zhang from Moreton Hall School.

In the aged 16 to 19 category first prize went to Hannah Nolan (16) from Malvern St James School; second prize to Chloe Hyde (17) from The Hereford Academy; third prize to Jonathan Miseroy (19) from the University of Westminster. Highly Commended was awarded to Katrina Moses (17) from The Hereford Academy and Sophie's Favourite was Mark O'Neill (16) from Hereford College of Arts.