A STUNNING picture of giant waves battering a harbour wall has helped a talented North-East photographer win a prestigious award.

Paul Kingston, who has worked for press agency North News and Pictures for 15 years, picked up the Public's Favourite award in the annual Weather Photographer of the Year competition.

Around 800 photographers around the world entered the competition, run by the Royal Meteorological Society, with the 36-year-old Teesdale photographer coming out on top with his image of waves engulfing Whitehaven Harbour during a storm in December 2013.

"It is a really nice thought that people would take time out of their day to go through the process of voting for me, just because they liked my picture," he said.

"It wasn't until I got to the train station afterwards that it started to hit me - I honestly am so touched by it because I have never won anything like this before.

He added: "I love doing weather photography because I have a real interest in weather, I love taking photos, and I get paid to do so - I am lucky that I can marry all three together really.

"On the day that I took that picture I was supposed to be going to a different place called Allonby about 20 miles away, because I knew that it was an easy place to get a good weather picture.

"At the last minute I changed my mind and decided to go for a risk and head to Whitehaven where I had never been before.

"I had to climb about half way up a cliff to fit the rest of Whitehaven in the picture, but I like doing that because facing the elements is all part of the challenge.

"It was like the perfect storm - the water levels were perfect and the wind was blowing the right way, it just worked".

North News and Pictures managing director Ted Ditchburn said: "Paul Kingston is an exceptional talent and perhaps should be more well known within the region".