EVENING Times' photographer Nick Ponty scooped a top award.

He took home the Photographic Award at the Refugee Week Scotland Media Awards 2013, held at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.

Nick won the award for his picture of two women – one a Zimbabwean refugee and the other a lifelong resident of Glasgow, who met and formed a close and lasting friendship through a theatre project in the Gorbals.

The awards are hosted annually by the British Red Cross in association with the Scottish Refugee Council and the National Union of Journalists.

Nick was among six winners across different categories, including Judith Duffy, who scooped the National Print (News) Award for an article she wrote on the plight of asylum seekers in Glasgow for the Evening Times' sister paper, the Sunday Herald.

Evening Times' reporter Maureen Ellis was runner-up in the Local Print category, this year, and last year, former Evening Times' reporter Jasper Hamill won the NUJ Special Award.

Derek Masterton, media relations officer for the British Red Cross in Scotland and spokesman for the organisers, said: "The awards continue to go from strength to strength and we were very happy to see even more entries than we had last year.

"We believe this indicates a growing media interest in matters affecting asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.

"The quality of entries for all was extremely high and shows that Scotland is very well served by top class journalists and journalism."

Evening Times editor Tony Carlin said: " I am delighted that this image, which appeared in the Evening Times, has been recognised in these prestigious awards.

"I am also delighted for Nick, whose talent and hard work has been rewarded by a team of media judges.

"His award is thoroughly deserved."

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk