The return of a popular photography contest attracted almost 200 entries.

The Reg Fowkes Photography competition has been a favourite of amateur photographers since 1995.

It was set up by Pat Smith of Parkway, Woodford Green, in honour of her father Reg, a keen photographer, who died in 1994.

She took a year off organising the event last year but says she is delighted that the event is still pulling in entries.

Photographers were awarded prizes in a number of different categories including landscapes, nature and children’s snaps.

The overall winner of the competition was Loughton Camera Club member Keith Lillywhite, whose action shot of a motorbike race earned him the coveted Reg Fowkes Memorial Shield.

The retired chartered mechanical engineer who lives in Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill, said: “This is the first time I have entered the competition.

“I didn’t know Reg Fowkes personally but he was a very well respected photographer, so I have very honoured to win this trophy.

“I was particularly pleased to see so many children’s photographs. It’s very heartening to see them so interested in photography.”

More than 100 people attended an exhibition of the photographs at St Mary’s Church in South Woodford at the weekend.

Mr Fowkes used to worship at the church and daughter Pat said he would have been delighted to know that the competition had raised more than £200 for St Mary’s.

She said: “It’s good to be back after a year off, although I need a rest now.

“It was nice to catch up with some of the old faces who enter every year, but we had a lot of new photographers getting involved too.

“I’m sure my father would have been very impressed by the high standard of entries.”