A trainee press photographer has been praised by police after her quick thinking led to the arrest of two young vandalism suspects.

South Yorkshire Times photographer Anne-Marie Sanderson, who is currently studying at Sheffield’s Norton College, managed to grab shots of a group of youths who appeared to be vandalising an abandoned car.

The car goes up in flames

And after providing police with copies of her pictures, they were able to identify two youths and arrest them.

Anne-Marie, (26), has now been thanked for her help in a letter from Rotherham District Police chief superintendent Christine Burbeary who praised her diligence and her “public spirited act”.

It said: “The assistance you have given in this investigation of these matters was outstanding and police officers whom you met have contacted me directly asking me to express their appreciation and thanks.

“I am very grateful to you for dealing with this incident in such a professional manner, and providing the police with such vital information in this case.”

Firefighters put out the blaze

Anne-Marie said: “The car was dumped in the middle of a park behind my home.

“I suspected there would be trouble at some point (it was the Easter holiday) but couldn’t believe my eyes when at about 6.15pm in broad daylight four youths started attempting to destroy the car, and then set fire to it.

“Like any good photographer, I got my pictures and then phoned the fire brigade!”

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