A photography awards scheme which saw over 3,000 images submitted last year has been cancelled.

The Scottish Press Photography Awards recognised the achievements of staffers and freelancers north of the border across 16 categories in 2009.

However First ScotRail’s contract to sponsor the prize giving expired and Glasgow-based organisers 3×1 failed in their bid to secure new sponsorship for this year’s event.

It would have been the rail operator’s fifth consecutive year of association with awards since their launch in spring 2006.

The news comes just days after the Newspaper Society confirmed it would not be running its three annual newspapers awards again this year while the Creative East media awards have also been shelved for 2010.

This week also saw the launch of the 32nd annual Guardian Student Media Awards with six prizes available, reduced from the 14 on offer last year.

Account director at 3×1 Alison Downs told HTFP: “We are currently looking and are confident that they are going to be up and running for 2011.

“First ScotRail came to the end of their contract and these are tough financial times for lots of companies but we’re confident we’re going to have a sponsor for next year.”

Among the winners last year was former Daily Record photographer Ian Torrance MBE who was given a lifetime achievement award after 50 years of service.