And as he reflected on his week of triumph, he paid tribute to two Mail photographers who had inspired him in his work.

Town man John Riddle won both the Historic Buildings Award and the Animals or Birds Class in the photography section of the Ryedale Show, and took a second spot for a black and white photograph.

His picture of Eilean Donan, a fortified castle in Scotland, collected a first in the Historic Buildings class.

"It was a right miserable day when I visited en route to the Isle of Skye, typical Scottish summer, black clouds, mist, really overcast," he said.

"I was lucky to capture the moment."

He made it a Ryedale double when his picture in the Animals or Birds class of a silverback gorilla in Jersey Zoo came out on top.

Just a day later, he took top spot for his wildlife shot at the Borrowby Show.

Another photograph of a gorilla, sleeping on the branch of a tree, picked up second place in the section.

John, who lives in the Chester Road area, said his inspiration came from the work of three local professional photographers; Frank Reid and Tom Collins who work for the Mail and Michael Gant of Rainbow Photography, in Northgate, Hartlepool.