EVENING Press photographer Anthony Chappel-Ross has scooped a major newspaper industry award for the second time.

The 23-year-old beat off stiff competition to win Young Photographer of the Year at the Newspaper Society Awards, while colleagues Mike Tipping and Garry Atkinson were commended in the Senior Photographer of the Year category.

Anthony submitted a portfolio of photographs taken during the past year including a dramatic scene of firefighters and emergency service workers in decontamination suits in Market Street, York, during a chemical attack alert.

The discovery of a parcel containing suspicious white powder triggered a massive emergency operation in March 2005.

Anthony also caught the judges' attention with his photograph of the Duke of Edinburgh, smiling at the camera, during Royal Ascot at York last year, as well as a York school's prayers following the London bombings.

Evening Press design supremo Simon Ritchie, 37, has also clinched a top media accolade.

The chief sub-editor won Sub-editor/Designer of the Year at the Newsquest Awards, run by the newspaper group to which the Evening Press belongs.

Simon submitted front pages from some of last year's biggest stories, including the July 7 bombings, Fulford flats fire and a double page spread on the Scream Mask murder.

Judges praised Simon for designing "bold, balanced front pages and adventurous spreads".

The Evening Press was also commended in the Daily Newspaper of the Year category following extensive coverage of Royal Ascot and successful community campaigns.

Our sales department also scooped a customer service award in connection with its Press Direct initiative.

Evening Press editor Kevin Booth said: "It's great to see our staff - and the newspaper - recognised by judges from the media industry.

"The awards reflect the talent and professionalism of the entire editorial team which made us one of the top ten performing titles in the country in 2005."

Our sister paper, the Gazette and Herald, was also commended by judges in the paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year category.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, March 28, 2006