Budding photographers are being given the chance to win a six-month paid placement at The Times, with the launch of this year’s Times/Tabasco Young Photographer of the year award.

The competition is open to all amateur photographers between the ages of 19 and 25 who have no national newspaper experience.

The winner will get to work alongside a team of experienced professional photographers on The Times picture desk.

Last year’s winner was former Norton College student Christopher Pledger, (24), who scored his first front page picture within weeks of starting his six months work, with a picture of Tony and Cherie Blair at the Labour Party conference.