AN UNUSUAL wedding day photograph outside a hen house has earned a couple £1,000.

Sarah Mayhew and Mike Craddock were married in front of a North Yorkshire hen house that once belonged to Sarah's great grandparents.

The photographer, Gary Walsh from Norton, near Stockton, won the Olympus Master Photographers Association's Wedding Photographer of the Year Award with the shot.

And in turn the newlyweds, both 32 who had a Humanist ceremony last year at Sarah's native Ingleby Cross, between Yarm and Northallerton, were given £1,000 in cash for being the inspiration behind the photograph.

“I’ve been fortunate to win many awards over the years, but it was really nice to see Sarah and Mike win £1,000 for being such wonderful subjects,” said Mr Walsh.

“It was one of many I took on the day but so many clients visiting my studio were talking about it that I decided to enter it into the competition. I’m glad I did.”

The bride, who lives with her husband in London, said: “We asked Gary for some special photographs featuring the hen house as it’s quite an unusual structure.

“It was given to my great grandparents, Tom and Sarah, who I’m named after, as a wedding present in 1906.

“As my wedding ring had belonged to my great grandmother we thought it would be quite fitting to include it in our photography.

“As for the bright yellow, we wanted our wedding day to feel really celebratory, buoyant and bursting with colour.

“The dress code was bows, bow-ties, braces, and all things bright and beautiful. You don't get much brighter than yellow.”

Mr Walsh’s photograph beat competition from hundreds of photographers all over the UK to net the prizes.

It is currently on display at his Gary Walsh Photography, Norton High Street studios and can be viewed on his website www.garywalsh.co.uk