A photograph taken while on a work experience placement with the Express and Echo in Exeter has won student Alex Wan a national award.

Alex, (22), took the winning shot in the 2005 Novartis and Daily Telegraph National Visions of Science and Photographic Awards while he was at the paper.

His photograph, in vivid colour, won him the award in a category entered by more than 2,000 people.

During his stint at the Echo, Alex was assigned by photographer Matt Minshull to take a picture of creatures at a local reptile house – and it was a shot of a baby chameleon devouring a cricket that secured him the award.

Alex said: “I remember going with the photographer from the paper to the reptile shop because my picture was used in the Echo. I remember how thrilled I was that I had got my first one used.”

He was handed the award by TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis, who fronts the BBC series What The Ancients Did For Us, at a ceremony at the Royal Society in London.

Adam Hart-Davis said: “Alex’s image is full of impact and captures perfectly the fast action of the chameleon’s tongue in trapping its prey.”

Alex, who attends Southampton University, hopes to pursue a career as a science photographer.

The Echo’s Matt Minshull said: “Alex took a great picture and deserves the award. We were only too happy to help him out with his photographic training.”