A DOG’S winning smile helped a Peterlee man win The Northern Echo’s monthly photography competition.

A smiling woman and her grinning dog were snapped by 64-year-old George Hodgson during a vintage event in Howarth.

The pair were enjoying the sights and sounds of a 40s weekend when they caught the eye of Mr Hodgson.

His photograph was the winning entry for June in The Northern Echo’s Winning Smile competition.

Pleased with his win, Mr Hodgson said: “Both the dog and the lady had lovely smiles and when I saw this competition, I thought the photograph really suited its title.”

Another June winner was 48-year-old Mandy Baveridge who submitted a picture representing three generations of her family.

Shortly before her father, 74-year-old David Baveridge, was admitted to hospital for an operation, Ms Baveridge captured a happy picture of him with her daughter Bernadette Baveridge and granddaughter Kacey Cooper, ten.

Ms Baveridge said: “My dad rarely smiles so when I saw he was, I just had to get it on camera.

“I really liked the photograph of the three of them together – it’s a nice, happy photo.

“I can’t believe I won the competition.”

Ms Baveridge won a £25 iTunes voucher while Mr Hodgson won a £50 Marks and Spencer voucher.

Readers are invited to enter the competition for next month by sending in pictures of something that makes them smile, or of them smiling.

The Winning Smile competition was launched to celebrate Darlington Building Society’s 160th anniversary.

An overall winner will take away a digital LSR camera.

For more information or to enter, visit thenorthernecho.co.uk/winningsmile.