A sixth form student at King’s Ely has taken home the first prize in a national competition.

As well as winning the UK ILFORD Photography Competition, Orla Simpson won £150 to spend at black and white photo film specialists ILFORD.

Students from across the UK were tasked to take lyrics from a song and turn it into an image that inspires the viewer as much as the music itself.

The 17-year-old’s winning piece, ‘Let’s talk about freedom, everyone prays in the end’, will be framed by competition staff. It is named after lyrics by award-winning musician Sam Smith.

All of the entries needed to be photographed using ILFORD PHOTO or Kentmere black and white film.

She is one of the youngest ever winners of the competition.

Orla, who lives near Huntingdon, will now have her image put forward to ILFORD’s international competition which will be judged later this year.

Antonio Longo, head of photography at King’s Ely, said: “Orla’s achievement is even more impressive given that she had never shot film before starting her course.

“We are all extremely proud of her.”