AN AMBLESIDE writer has seen his literary talents recognised by the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG).

At the guild's annual general meeting, Bill Birkett was given the coveted Dalesman Award for Best Outdoot book by Terry Fletcher, editor of the Dalesman Magazine based in Skipton.

Mr Birkett's book, A Year in the Life of the Duddon Valley, was described by the judges as offering readers "the variety of a seasonal framework," as well as containing "stunning" pictures.

The author has been a member of the OWPG, the UK's only organisation for people who love to write about and photograph the great outdoors, for a number of years and has writen many articles and books.