Darlington-based Camera 'A' has snapped up four awards of excellence in two national photographic competitions.

The Skinnergate business, established in 1981, won three awards of excellence at this year's national Master Photographers Association (MPA) Competition, and a first prize in the national Fuji Film sponsored competition.

Proprietor Ann Simmons beat thousands of entries to win an award of excellence in the Classic Wedding section for the third year running.

Awards two and three went to Helen Dyson, who won the Dennis Hylander wedding and the David Mathias Memorial Portrait Award.

Helen also achieved her own hat trick for the company by winning the Fuji Film award for best portrait. Her prize is a trip to a professional photographer's seminar on the island of Fuerteventura.

Ann Simmons said: "We expected Camera 'A' to do well as the MPA awards. However we are thrilled with this year's results which clearly show that we have some of the most talented photographers right here in Darlington."