COUNTRYSIDE images and a storm have captured the votes of judges in the Great North Photography Competition.

The winner in the adult category was Michael Wintersgill with his photo of a foggy Roseberry Topping, taken from Ryston Bank, east Cleveland.

Megan Bennett, 14, won first prize in the under-18s section with her picture of High Thoresby Farm, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

The winner in the mobile phone camera category was Kurtis Mark Sumpton, aged ten, with his picture of a storm over Spennymoor, County Durham.

The judges, The Northern Echo's chief photographer Mike Gibb and his deputy Andy Lamb, said the quality of the entries was very high.

"The pictures are very good this year," said Mr Gibb. "We selected the winners because they are good pictures in many ways - the composition, use of light, colour and contrast."

The competition, hosted by The Northern Echo and sponsored by Orange, encouraged amateur photographers to capture the North-East and North Yorkshire on film, memory card, or with a mobile photo phone.

The winners each receive £100.

Maureen Dixon, regional public relations manager with Orange, said: "The entries are excellent and certainly do capture this region and its many aspects - the coast, the hills and vibrant town and city centres."

Honourable mentions in the 18 and over category go to Owen Unsworth for his picture of Carlton Bank, and Nick Little for his picture of Dunstanburgh Castle. In the under-18s category, honourable mentions go to Thomas Ward for his photograph of Eggleston Abbey, and Andrew Fryatt for his shot of Kilgram Bridge, near Masham, North Yorkshire.

Sheelagh Caygill, digital media editor, said: "It has been fun running the competition and watching entries arrive each day.

"The online gallery will remain so that people can enjoy viewing the pictures."

To view the entries, visit www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/gnpc/index.html