A Watford photographer has won a highly commended award for a picture he entered in a competition run by internet encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Robin Brown’s image of Wrest Park Banqueting House beat 12,000 others to make it through to the top ten photographs entered into the competition.

Last night Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, paid tribute to the finalists of the UK Wiki Loves Monuments photography competition at an awards ceremony in London.

Robin Brown, from Gade Close, said: "I'm still trying to decide if I am more delighted to have a glass trophy for the mantelpiece or in having my image selected by an exceptionally talented group of my peers for an award.

"I think it's probably the latter though."

Wiki Loves Monuments is an international contest designed to gain high quality, freely licensed photos of significant buildings to use on Wikipedia.

The 54-year-old added: "I use Wikimedia in the course of main job, running a digital marketing company.

"I do a lot of photography but I don’t normally enter competitions. I thought, why not, I’ve got a lot of images.

"I entered and didn’t think anything of it and then received an email saying I was one of the top ten. I was quite surprised.

"My image will now be forwarded to the international competition."

The overall winner was a stunning photo of the Monument to the Fallen Soldier at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Winchester by Tim Firkins.

Mr Brown said: "I used to travel a lot in the telecommunications business, I travelled to more than 60 countries and always carried a camera with me.

Watford Observer:

Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales (left), presenting Robin Brown with the award.

"I ran a photography business in Singapore and did a lot of interior photography, and I was appointed to accompany Prince Andrew and Edward on visits.

"The royals don’t like photographers so when you’re stood three feet from them at a party, it could be quite stressful."

Wikipedia is the largest reference work ever created. It's the sixth most visited website in the world, attracting more than 500 million unique visitors every month.

Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia, said: "It's fantastic that so many people took the time to contribute their photos to the Wiki Loves Monuments competition. The standard of the winning images is incredibly high and I'm very pleased to be able to present the winners with their awards."