Photographer 'gobsmacked' at win

READERS of The Northern Echo have chosen a photograph of the Transporter Bridge, in Middlesbrough, as the best in a competition in the paper.

Teacher Mark Fletcher, 45, entered the photograph in the competition the paper ran in conjunction with the Passionate people. Passionate places campaign, run by development agency One NorthEast.

Readers chose his picture as the best from a shortlist of ten.

Mr Fletcher, who lives in the Elmtree area of Stockton, said: "I am delighted - gobsmacked."

He took the winning photograph of the bridge, which spans the Tees between Port Clarence and Middlesbrough, on a winter's evening. He said: "I like going out at night, I find it very therapeutic. At first I often wondered how people take photographs at night. Now I know."

Finding himself too old to play cricket, Mr Fletcher began to take photographs of his favourite sport, and of rugby matches as well.

"Because I was too old to play, the best way to stay involved was to take photographs. Landscape shots just developed from there -and it was a way of getting out of the house."

He won a luxury overnight stay at the 14th Century Langley Castle Hotel, near Hexham, in Northumberland, including dinner in the restaurant.