A 16-YEAR-OLD photographer has had her work recognised in a national competition for youngsters with epilepsy. Organised by the charity Epilepsy Action, Baldock girl Rebecca Costantini achieved second place in the 13 to 18 age group of the competition, wi

A 16-YEAR-OLD photographer has had her work recognised in a national competition for youngsters with epilepsy.

Organised by the charity Epilepsy Action, Baldock girl Rebecca Costantini achieved second place in the 13 to 18 age group of the competition, with her picture of her granddad working on his allotment.

Rebecca, of Mons Avenue, Baldock, said: "I am really surprised and pleased to have done so well and my granddad is proud of me.

"I have always loved photography. I have been doing it for about two years now and want to be a professional photographer."

Professional photographer David Holloway and marketing and donor manager at Epilepsy Action, Catherine Wright, judged the competition.

David said: "Rebecca's photo has very good composition and use of colour - it's got straight lines, shapes, and a really nice subject of a man working."

Rebecca's photograph formed part of In Focus 2006 - a national photo exhibition at the Foundling Museum, London - showing life through the eyes of young people with epilepsy.

Elizabeth Reather, education policy and campaign officer at Epilepsy Action, said: "I hope this exhibition challenges some people's perceptions about young people with epilepsy.

"Each one of the photographs shows that children with the condition do see and experience many of the same things as their friends.

Epilepsy affects an estimated 1 in 242 children and 60,000 children of school age suffer from it in the UK.

For more information, visit www.epilepsy.org.uk or call the free epilepsy helpline on 0808 800 5050.