DRAMATIC pictures of a race crash and a portrait of a young amputee in war-torn Sierra Leone have helped scoop a top media award for Wiltshire Times photographer Trevor Porter.

The inaugural Wiltshire Media Awards, organised by the county branch of the National Union of Journalists, were held in Swindon last week and celebrated the county's journalists and press officers.

Awards presenter Shirley Ludford said: "Trevor presented an outstanding portfolio of pictures that included a dramatic photograph of a racing car hurtling through the air upside down.

"He has also produced a picture capturing the bravery of a young Sierra Leone boy who had his leg amputated."

Trevor received the award from rival photographer, and NUJ officer Bob Naylor.

Trevor said: "Although I was nominated for the Wiltshire Award I didn't think I would win it and it came as a great surprise on the evening.

"What was good for the Wiltshire Times is that my colleague Glenn Phillips was also praised."

Fellow Wiltshire Times photographer Glenn Phillips was commended for his picture of The Rev Bobby Magill, taken amidst World Cup fever last year.

Talking about his entries Trevor said: "The racing car hurtling through the air was an obvious choice for me to enter. It didn't have a sad ending as the driver walked away from the crash.

My visit to Sierra Leone to cover a story about Territorial Army Soldiers led me to take the picture of the young boy in a war hospital.

"Whenever I think of the bravery of this 12-year-old, who was walking around the wards helping other patients only 48 hours after his operation, it brings a lump to my throat.

"The picture means a lot to me."