A FORMER Chippenham College lecturer has won national honours in a photographic competition.

William Allen, took redundancy five years ago, when the college was making cutbacks and decided to turn his passion for photography into his livelihood.

He entered his photo of a father and child in the Kodak Portrait and Wedding competition and was delighted when he discovered it had won.

Mr Allen said: "When Kodak called to tell me the picture had won the open category at the spring judging, I was absolutely thrilled. It was a vindication of my decision five years ago to become a professional photographer.

"I was 45 when I was made redundant. For a while I did go job-hunting, but my age meant I was always coming second at interviews.

"Then I decided to turn my love for taking pictures into a full-time career."

Mr Allen now runs his photography business from his home in Knowle, Bristol .

His winning shot of father, John Mackintosh, with his son, Cameron, was taken on a Sunday afternoon just a few days before the competition's closing deadline.