Phil Cannings, from the Newbury Weekly News, has been named Fujifilm Photographer of the Year for Local Newspapers at this year’s Picture Editors’ Awards.

The regional press man was one of 21 winners who collected awards from Tony Blair.

The irony of the situation was not lost on the Prime Minister, following the departure of Mirror editor Piers Morgan over the publication of faked photographs of Iraqis being tortured. He told the audience that whatever difficulties he might have with photographers, “in the end I quite like you”.

Other regional winners included The Scotsman, which was crowned Getty Images Regional Newspaper of the Year, with the Nikon Photo Essay Award going to staff photographer Ian Rutherford.

Glasgow’s The Herald also had a good night, with photographer Angela Catlin named Nikon Features Photographer of the Year and Chris Furlong winning the prize for Getty Images Magazine Photographer of the Year. Stewart Attwood, from its sister paper the Sunday Herald, picked up the Guinness Award for Best Black and White Picture.

The Diageo Young Photographer of the Year was Cate Gillon from the Edinburgh Evening News.

The competition was open to national and regional newspaper staff, agency staff and freelances.

For a full list of winners, click here.

All the winners were announced during a ceremony in the Great Hall of Guildhall in London, after being chosen by picture editors from across the UK and Ireland.

The winning photographs can be seen at www.pictureawards.net.

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