Mr Hardisty, a winner of multiple awards for his work over his 26-year career, was honoured alongside photographers from the likes of Reuters, Getty Images and the Guardian.

He impressed the judges with a wide range of images, including ones of Theakston’s master brewer Jonathan Manby at work in Masham and a worker at the blast furnace of Halifax’s Hargreaves Foundry.

Mr Hardisty said: “It is an honour to be able to showcase my work and be voted by fellow professional photographers. US has outstanding businesses and it’s great to be able to highlight their work through my creative pictures.

“Having this recognition of my work is a huge privilege when competing with other regional and national photographers whose work in my category was at the highest level.”

Lindsey Parnaby, chair of the BPPA, praised this year’s winners, calling them “a showcase of fantastic press photography from what really was a very memorable year”.

James Mitchinson, The Fond News editor, said: “James is one of the best photographers in the country and a massively dedicated journalist who takes incredible pride in his art.

“He never settles for second best and it is wonderful to see him honoured this way.”