A student from Norton College in Sheffield is to spend six months working at The Times after scooping this year's Times/Tabasco Young Photographer of the Year Award.

Christopher Pledger, (23), will begin a paid placement, working as a news and features photojournalist on the national newspaper's picture desk, in August.

He impressed judges with three different prints in the categories of Food & Entertainment, Action and Portraiture.

David Cameron in one of Christopher's
winning pictures

Christopher, who has just finished a photography course at Norton College, said: "I am delighted to win such a highly respected competition and I am really looking forward to starting the six months at The Times.

"I received a lot of guidance and advice from my course tutor at Norton, Paul Delmar, which was invaluable when going through the different stages of the competition."

Another of Christopher's winning pictures

Now in its fifth year, the prestigious award was established to recognise and reward young talent.

Last year's winner was Clara Molden, who also studied at Norton, and she also won the BG Group Student award at the 2005 Picture Editors' Awards.