A NORTHERN Echo photographer has been recognised as one of the best in the UK for her captivating image ‘Rita the Pointer”.

Sarah Caldecott has been named runner up in the pet category of the British Photography awards

The awards aim to showcase the finest photographs taken in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as assisting different UK charities to help communities that support the competition itself

Mrs Caldecott, who has almost 20-years of professional photography experience, said: “I am delighted to have come runner up in the British photography awards.

"I have a huge passion for dog photography and it is a great honour to receive the award whilst also helping to raise money for your chosen charity which in my case was Help for Heroes."

The recognition comes just weeks after Mrs Caldecott was crowned winner of the Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year competition with the same image.

That competition received almost 10,000 entries from 74 different countries including Canada, Russia, Brazil and New Zealand.

“This is the second national award I have received with this photograph of Rita the Pointer," she said.

"Since getting Poppy our first Hungarian Vizsla seven years ago my love for dog photography has grown immensely, and through it I have made many new friends who have helped me along the way."

Speaking about her award-winning image, Mrs Caldecott added: "The photograph of Rita the Pointer was taken on the moor near Cotherstone in Co Durham in February this year.

" This was one of the last photographs I took that day, the weather had been awful and light was fading fast.

"This was the first Pointer I had photographed, they are such graceful dogs that bound effortlessly across the moor, this is what I wanted to capture and in the end I think the weather helped to create a more atmospheric photograph."

Alexandra Robbins was the overall winner in the pet category for her photograph - Bengal Kitten - which was taken in Cardiff.

Other categories for the awards included landscapes, portraits, water life, street photography, bird life and land animals.

Hugo Donnithorne-Tait, director of the British photography awards, said: "We want to thank everyone who supported this innovative project - the judges who kindly donated their time, all those who spread the word on social media and, of course all those photographers who entered this year's competition."

For more information about the awards, visit www.britishphotographyawards.org.