Two student photographers have snapped up first place in a national school Christmas card competition.

Brogan Lawes and Brad Lacey, both 16, study at Ormiston Venture Academy in Gorleston. And when the national Ormiston Academies Trust - with 20 schools and more than 10,000 pupils across the country - announced its Christmas card competition they decided to give it a shot.

Entries poured in, but their winning image of a Christmas tree drawn with a torchlight caught the eye of judges and secured them the top spot.

Brad said: 'We were speechless and shocked to have won.'

He researched photography techniques online, and joined forces with Brogan to get the perfect bulb exposure shot.

The technique involved moving a light in the shape of a Christmas tree, while a camera recorded the image over 45 seconds.

The pair took their winning image in the park on Bunnywell Avenue.

'It took us about three hours to get the right picture,' revealed Brad.

'We practiced different shapes first then led up to doing the Christmas ones.'

Brogan, who is the academy's official photographer, added she was surprised to win. She is studying an AS Level in photography and added it would be her 'dream job'.

A �100 donation to their chosen charity, Macmillan, was made as a prize for winning, and their image will adorn the cards sent out to Ormiston's mailing list.