A COUNTY Durham wildlife group has held a prizegiving evening for the winners of a photographic competition.

The Sedgefield Wildlife Group, established nearly five years ago, invited Malcolm Thurman, from the Durham Photographic Society, to judge the competition.

Marianne Markham, who lives in Sedgefield, won two classes in the competition.

Her picture of an orchid won top prize in the plants category, and she claimed first place in the animals section.

Jill Kettlewell, who lives at Brafferton, near Darlington, won the wildlife category.

Honorary secretary Ann Oliver said: "It was a very nice meeting and Malcolm Thurman gave us tips on how we could improve our photographs.