A PHOTOGRAPHER who will be familiar to many residents in the area has received more accolades for her work.

Shiralee Swan, who lives on the borders of Thurrock and Basildon on Bells Hill Road near the Five Bells roundabout, received two merit awards in the Societies of Photographers, international 20x16 print competition.

Shiralee worked on the Essex and Thurrock Enquirer newspaper for 13 years before it closed in 2019, taking thousands of pictures at community events across both boroughs.

Being a horse owner for more than five decades redundancy gave Shiralee the opportunity to follow her dream of specialising in equine portrait photography.

She said: "To have my prints go in front of a panel of five of the world's top photography judges was nerve-wracking. I was super pleased to get two merit awards. I enjoy helping the most discerning of owners by capturing the true character of their horses, through classic elegant, and timeless pieces of photographic art."

Shiralee can be contacted via her website www.shiraleeswan.co.uk.