AMATEUR photographers have only two weeks to get their entries in for a regional competition.

Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust has invited amateur photographers in Teesside, north-east Yorkshire and east Durham to enter the competition and see their work tour the area in a year-long exhibition.

The competition has been launched as part of the trust's Open Up campaign to tackle the stigma and discrimination often associated with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

Because one in four people suffer some form of mental health problem during their lives, the competition has the theme of one in four.

Caroline Parnell, the trust's head of communication, organised the competition.

She said: "We launched the competition in March at the start of our Open Up campaign and we've had some excellent entries, but there is still time for people to submit their photographs."

Twelve entries will be on show in an exhibition to be launched on World Mental Health Day in October. It will tour east Durham, Teesside and north-east Yorkshire over the following year.

The winning photographs will also feature in the trust's annual report for 2002-2003 and a calendar.

The overall winner will receive a digital camera. Other prizes include money, vouchers and the chance to work with a newspaper photographer and an award-winning commercial photographer.

Entry forms are available from the trust on (01642) 516462 or via its www.peoplelikeus.nhs.uk website. The closing date for entries is Friday, June 27.

The competition is sponsored by Jessops, The Northern Echo, Ewen Communication of Billingham and Graham Brown Photography of Stockton.