A PHOTOGRAPHER based in the North-East has won a national award for capturing the British coastline.

Press Association snapper Owen Humphreys’ winning picture shows the North Pier lighthouse being battered by waves in the North Sea at Seaham in County Durham.

Mr Humphreys’ photo was selected as the winner of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society coastal views category, one of four sections showcasing the UK’s coastline and its associated people and industry.

Mr Humphreys, from Tynemouth, said he was ‘very pleased’.

Chris Herring won the ships and wrecks category and took the overall prize for an image of Cart Gap, Norfolk, while John Roberts won the best industry picture of the year for the Bay of Biscay.

The fourth winner was Gareth Easton, in the people and recreation category, with his submission from Shetland.

A shot showing members of the RNLI and HM Coastguard practice manoeuvres at Scarborough, which was taken by Allan Charter, which has been highly commended in the Industry category

Captain Justin Osmond, Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society chief executive, said: “We received about 1,000 entries this year for the competition which is fantastic and many of the images portray those who we are here to support, with the competition enabling us to raise awareness of the maritime environment and those working in it.”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has provided financial assistance to fishermen and mariners and their dependents who have suffered hardship, misfortune or poverty, as a result of an accident, illness, disability, unemployment or retirement since 1839.

The society paid grants totalling over £1.4 million last year in 2,000 cases of need.