A new photography awards scheme has been launched by the UK Picture Editors’ Guild to recognise the best press photos in the country.

The organisation has announced its first awards and photographers have until the end of this month to enter.

Guild members have set up the contest to offer a nationwide challenge to press photographers, which they felt had been lacking.

The competition will be hosted on a dedicated website with seven categories for professional photographers, including ones for sport, news and business pictures.

It also includes an eighth category for citizen photographers – open to members of the public who witness a news event.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 21 September at the Honourable Artillery Company headquarters in London.

An overall winner will be honoured as the SABMiller photographer of the year and will receive £1,000, while those awarded individual categories will each receive £500.

Entries will be accepted for pictures taken in the last 12 months up to 16 July and the deadline for entries is 31 July.

For information on how to enter, visit piced.net.