A SOLDIER who hails from Clitheroe is snap-happy after coming out tops in a national competition to find the best photographers in the army.

Sgt Paul Brownbridge, 32, formerly of Low Moor, has won the Best Use of Digital Medium section of the 2003 Army Photographic Competition.

The former Ribblesdale High School pupil impressed judges with his photograph of a fellow soldier pouring water over his face, after digitally manipulating it to show a jungle background and extra water splashes.

Paul studied for A levels at Accrington and Rossendale College before joining the Parachute Regiment. He served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, where he now works as a photographer in the Royal Logistic Corps.

The Army Photographic Competition aims to promote a high standard of photography in the armed forces and utilise the opportunities that army life presents for photography.

The event is open to all regular army and TA personnel, the Army Cadet Force and Ministry of Defence civilians and contractors.

But it is not the first time that Paul has come out tops in the competition, which offers prizes in 10 categories. Last year he swept the board and in 1998 won the Best Image section.

Paul, who is married and has made his home in Northern Ireland, said: "I'm really pleased to win this latest accolade."

He was presented with a Canon digital camera by Major General David Richards CBE, the army's assistant chief of general staff, at an awards ceremony at the Ministry of Defence in London.

Maj Richards said: "Army life provides superb opportunities for the amateur and professional photographers among us. Paul demonstrated a high level of photographic skill."

Competition judges included Dave Barlow, the art editor of Focus Magazine, and Gary Coward-Williams, the editor of Amateur Photographer.