GAZETTE photographer Jason Allen has been honoured with a top award in a major photographic competition.

Jason was named runner-up in the Fujifilm Local Newspaper Photographer of the Year category at The Picture Editors' Awards ceremony at the Guildhall in London. The awards were presented by Alistair Campbell, the Prime Minister's Director of Communications and Strategy.

The Picture Editors' Awards recognise and reward the very best in photographic journalism in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

More than 2,200 entries and 8,000 images were received through www.pictureawards.net and a jury of 25 picture editors made the initial assessment and nominated 45 photographers for awards.

Picture editors from all daily, Sunday and evening titles, together with representatives from the World Photo Agency, were then invited to vote for the ultimate winners.

Jason, 31, a former BCOT student who joined Gazette Newspapers in 1997, was presented with an engraved decanter to mark his achievement.

Gazette Newspapers editor Mark Jones said: "Jason's entry was an outstanding portfolio of work, and to win this prize in such a tough and prestigious competition is a great honour.

"Everyone at Gazette Newspapers is delighted for him and congratulates him on his success."