PICTURES of people and places in York have helped win a young photographer from the city a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Katherine Batchelor, of Otterwood Lane, Acomb, is set to spend six months working as a photographer for The Times newspaper in London.

The opportunity comes after 23-year-old Katherine was named Young Photographer of the Year in a competition organised by the national newspaper.

The former Manor Church of England School pupil got her first taste of professional photography during a week's work experience at the Evening Press in 1997.

She has now graduated from a small compact camera to a Canon EOS 50E and is studying for a photographic journalist qualification in Sheffield.

Among her portfolio of winning photographs were shots taken in York at the Station Road War Memorial and at Knavesmire during the floods of 2000.

Katherine said people are her favourite subject for photographs and she works hard to get the perfect picture.

She said: "It has been drilled in to me to get people in every news picture - it's always in the back of my mind when I am holding a camera.

"Working at The Times will be a big step for me and a wonderful opportunity for the future."

Katherine will start her six-month paid contract in July and has already attended the Queen Mother's funeral in London with photographers from The Times.

Times executive editor Richard Holledge said: "Katherine has the qualities of skill, imagination and determination, which will make her a fine photographer."

Updated: 11:56 Tuesday, April 16, 2002