The lack of diversity in the media is reflected in a thought-provoking photo by a Norfolk student, which has won the top prize in a national competition.

Dereham Times: Maddy Turner's award winning image. Picture: MADDY TURNERMaddy Turner's award winning image. Picture: MADDY TURNER (Image: Archant)

Reepham High School and College student Maddy Turner was the overall winner in a contest called The Bigger Picture run by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Maddy, a keen photographer, said she was delighted with her success in the contest, which saw more than 550 images submitted by 14 to 18-year-olds from 75 schools across the country.

She said of her photo, titled 'Diversity in the media': 'The image highlights the lack of racial diversity in the media.

'I searched through every fashion magazine I could find and didn't come across a single portrait of someone with darker skin.

Dereham Times: Cameron Lawrence's image. Picture: CAMERON LAWRENCECameron Lawrence's image. Picture: CAMERON LAWRENCE (Image: Archant)

'Norfolk is one of the least diverse places in the country making people with any kind of difference stand out and face discrimination.

'This photograph shows how this can make people more self-conscious about their skin colour.'

Entries were required to show the 'bigger picture' of society today - looking at how the world is changing considering things like politics, education, climate change, health care, technology, migration and poverty.

And Maddy was not the college's only winner in the photo competition.

Fellow student Cameron Lawrence took top honours in a 'new world order' category for his pair of photos focusing on the role of agriculture in society.

Explaining the significance of his photos titled 'Looking beyond the present' and 'Prospects', Cameron said: 'coming from a rural area I have experienced the increasing pressures on our farming industry.

'With the uncertainty of Brexit and globalisation, where do our farmers and natural resources lie?'

Maddy received £200 in vouchers for her winning entry and Cameron got £100.

Alisdair Hadden, a teacher at Reepham High School and College, said of the students' awards: 'The art department at Reepham High School and College are very proud of our students' achievements.

'We believe in encouraging our students to explore themselves and their world through the use of visual literacy.'