Craig Philip Szlatoszlavek wins council’s You, Me and Us photographic competition

Craig Philip Szlatoszlavek wins the council’s You, Me and Us photographic competition - prize presented by Mayor James Gartside

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A panel of expert judges awarded first place in the council’s You, Me and Us photographic competition to Olympic Torch Day by Craig Philip Szlatoszlavek, which showed a scene from The Esplanade in Rochdale on a very special day last June. Craig, from Milnrow, receives £300 to spend at Pennine Photography on Drake Street in Rochdale.

It was Drake Street that provided the inspiration for Kerry Parkes who came second in the competition with a picture which vividly portrayed the Metrolink works that are taking place. Kerry, from Weir, Bacup, won a portable printer and a bundle of great photographic accessories.

Third place went to Stephen Elphick, from Littleborough, who receives a collection of photographic accessories for Rushbearing 2012 – Littleborough Village, which perfectly captured the spirit of the event.

Organised to celebrate the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives, the competition attracted more than 100 entries from people keen to show what Rochdale means to them.

A selection of the best pictures go on a tour of the borough for the next 12 months, beginning at Middleton Arena until Monday 20 May when they will then spend three months each at venues in Heywood, Rochdale and Littleborough.

The exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor James Gartside, accompanied by the Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor Jane Gartside, with the Mayor also presenting prizes to the winners.

The Mayor said: “I hope as many people as possible will come along to see the photographs which encapsulate the vibrancy and variety that can be found in our borough.

“The International Year of Co-operatives was a proud time for Rochdale and it’s wonderful that future generations will have a permanent record of what life in the borough was like in 2012.”