Top shot Leon Neal, of Sheffield College, has won the Times/Tabasco Young Photographer of the Year Award.

Now in its second year, the competition - organised by Tabasco, the manufacturer of the famous Pepper Sauce and The Times - offers a young photographer the unique opportunity to work on the UK's leading broadsheet paper for six months, on full salary, with some of the finest journalists in the world.

Leon (above) follows in the footsteps of last year's winner - Katherine Batchelor, also from Sheffield College.

He said: "My photographic skills and confidence have increased enormously since embarking on the NCTJ course at Sheffield.

"Winning this competition is a dream come true. I want to learn as much as I can and take some of the best photographs during my six months on The Times."

Times Executive Editor Richard Holledge said: "The standard of entries in this year's competition was again extremely high, but we all agreed that there was something special about Leon's work. He's also got a lively personality and should be a good team player on the Times picture desk."

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