THE work of a North-East lecturer has been chosen for inclusion in a book of the best British contemporary photography.

Pat Maycroft, a part-time photography lecturer at Darlington College of Technology, County Durham, has added to her long list of professional successes with the publication of one of her pictures in a book called Best of Friends 7.

The item Pat photographed, a brick from her home town, has a unique story behind it.

She lives in Butterknowle, County Durham, an area which formerly had a brickworks.

Each brick was imprinted with a thumbprint from the worker who made it, making the bricks from Butterknowle instantly recognisably wherever they turn up.

The black and white picture was selected to appear in the book as the result of a competition.

The contest, held every year, invited subscribers to Creative Monochrome Magazine, to send in amateur and professional photographs for judging.

Pat said: "It was an honour to be chosen. The brick has a lovely story behind it, and it was nice to have a small piece of local heritage included in the book.