JANE Stallwood has been named the winner of this year's Teesdale photographic contest and will have her scenic snapshot of the upper dale printed on the front of the district's 2004 calendar.

The former social worker, who lives in Stainton, near Barnard Castle, has twice been a runner-up, and had her photographs featured on the inside of the calendar.

Mrs Stallwood and her husband, Melvyn, moved to the area from Peterborough ten years ago, after they travelled north for a holiday and fell in love with the local scenery.

"I have carried a camera on my outings ever since, because there are so many scenes that are worth capturing," she said.

"How can you live in Teesdale and not take pictures?"

Her winning photograph, taken between High Force and Low Force, earns her £50.

The 12 runners-up whose pictures were chosen for the calendar will receive £25 from the district council, which organised the competition.

They are: Maurice Clark, Katie Walton, William Fletcher, George Jameson, Derrick Wilkinson, Rose Pude and John Pude, all of Barnard Castle; Carol Grey and Richard Proud (2) of Middleton; Richard Harle of Stainton and Geoffrey Freeman of Winston.

Rosie Cross, arts development officer, said the theme next year will be settlements in Teesdale.