A Maidstone snapper has picked up a prize in the Dog Photographer of the Year competition.

Jamie Morgan, of Ashford Drive in Kingswood, won the portrait category for his image of Afghan Hounds Ozzie and Elvis in Ashdown Forest.

Now in its tenth year, the contest run by The Kennel Club received almost 13,000 entries from a staggering 90 different countries - making it the biggest canine photography competition in the world.

Dad-of-five Mr Morgan started Hound Dog Photography after an industrial accident forced him to give up his electrical business of 15 years.

The 33-year-old said: “Having grown up in a farming family in beautiful Kent, the outdoors has always had a place in my heart. After a long period of running a hectic business, it was time for a lifestyle change and in 2015 I started training and working as a dog photographer.

"As the owner of a Saluki and a Whippet, I have a real love of hounds, so when starting a personal project to photograph more than 200 breeds of dog, where better to start than with a hound breed?"

Winners of all eight awards, which included categories for dogs at play, assistance dogs and puppies, received a framed print of their image, a SmugMug photo sharing account and a two day photography course.

Judges included professional photographers, gallery bosses and Kennel Club chief executive Rosemary Smart.

She said: “The entries for this year’s Dog Photographer of the Year competition were some of the best we have ever seen.

"Each of the winning photographers beautifully captured the essence of their canine subjects on camera, demonstrating how important dogs are to us in every walk of life."

All the winning images plus the photos that placed second and third for each category will be on display at the Kennel Club in Mayfair, London until September 12 as part of a free exhibition.