The accolade means that Jessica Homer, whose work has appeared in the Belfast Telegraph, will spend the summer photographing a range of fixtures at Lords, the home of cricket, including npower Test matches and NatWest one-day international matches.

Jessica, from Co Down, was the unanimous choice of a selection panel which included the top cricket photographer Graham Morris, who will act as mentor on his return from the ICC Cricket World Cup.

She will also cover a range of other club matches, including fixtures involving the MCC Young Cricketers, the MCC Universities and the club's women players.

The 28-year-old is a freelance photographer whose work has appeared in a variety of regional daily newspapers including the Belfast Telegraph.

Originally from Solihull in the West Midlands, she won the title 'Young Photographer of the Year' in 2001's Banks's Midlands Press Photographer of the Year awards.

Jessica had her start as a trainee photographer for Trinity Mirror in the West Midlands, moving on to the Gloucestershire Echo before going freelance. She moved to Northern Ireland with her husband two and a half years ago.

"I've always wanted to be a photographer, ever since I was 13," Jessica said.

The MCC judging panel described her portfolio as "outstanding".

"It was a portfolio of 12 pieces, a variety of sports and day-to-day news as well," she said.

Shots ranged from the Northern Ireland v England match in 2005 to a teddy bears picnic.

"There was one cricket picture in there - it was a celebration picture of a Gloucestershire v Warwickshire match in 2001 and that was my first visit to Lords apart from last week," Jessica said.

The photographer has already covered last week's opening match, MCC v Sussex, and will be at North Down's match against the MCC in Comber on May 2.

Jessica's email address is www.jessicahomerpictures.co.uk