Jennifer Torrance and David Pretswell have been announced winners of this year’s Jesmond Photographic Competition.

The theme for this year’s competition was a personal interpretation of “A Year in Jesmond” and more than 40 photographic entries were received.

Organised by Jesmond Community Forum with support from Friends of Jesmond Library, the competiton’s judging panel included Dave Cross, Felicity Mendelson, Bobbie Harding, Marjorie Dodds and Catherine and Bob Walker. Since the competition began in 2008, the photographs have been assembled into a calendar and sold at Jesmond Library.

Entries were divided into two categories. The one for photographers aged 16 and under was won by Jennifer Torrance for her submission of “Bridge over Jesmond water”. Competition organiser Chris Clarke said Jennifer was “very delighted, because it was the first time she entered, and she didn’t expect to win”.

The over 16s category was won by local teacher David Pretswell for his submission of “A winters walk home”. One of the regulars of the annual competition, David’s photograph of a blackbird was included in last year’s calendar.

The winning pictures will be among the photos selected to illustrate Jesmond Calendar 2020 which will be sold at Jesmond Library in the run-up to Christmas. All of this year’s entries will be exhibited in Jesmond Library.

Chris Clarke says the number of entries this year was not as high as anticipated, with only “one or two new entrants”. With mainly local residents involved, Clarke says he hopes that the competition will attract younger people in the future — as a reward, younger entrants often receive a special prize.

Entry for next year’s competition — a theme has still to be decided — will open in the new year.