AN AWARD-WINNING photographer has donated his prize money to help newborn and sick babies at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital after staff cared for his daughter, who was born prematurely.

Jonathan Brett - who works at the hospital as a research photographer - says he did not have to think twice about handing over his £750 prize money to the neonatal unit after winning the silver award in the Royal Photographic Society's International Images for Science 2017 competition.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Marston with his wife Sarah Lacey, said their family wanted to be able to give back to the Headington hospital.

He added: "My daughter Matilda was born two years ago, she was pretty early and only weight five pounds and half an ounce, she was tiny.

"We had to stay in the unit for about a week and it was probably one of the most overwhelming times of our life.

"But the care we and Matilda received was just fantastic and she is now a healthy, happy toddler.

"I had been thinking for ages about something I could do to say thank you and donating the prize money seemed like the perfect idea."

Mr Brett has worked at the hospital for the last 14 years in his position as a research photographer.

He added: "I also get the chance to visit the unit with my job as I take pictures of the babies' eyes.

"I am able to see both sides of the coin: as I've been in the position those worried parents have been and then I also understand all the brilliant work that is done by the staff there to look after some really poorly babies."

Mr Brett was one of five winners out of 3,563 entries into the international competition.

His piece 'Retinal Ishihara' was created using almost 600 retinal images showing a wide variety of conditions.

The images were combined to resemble the colour vision chart tests created by Dr Shinobu Ishihara - a Japanese ophthalmologist who created the Ishihara color test to detect colour blindness.

His piece, along with 99 others, has been selected to be a part of the International Images for Science exhibition, which will tour the UK starting in London at The Crystal.

He added: "The evening of the awards ceremony was just around Matilda's second birthday.

"She really wanted to go but of course it was way past her bedtime.

"So everything has really come full circle and it felt only right to decide to donate the money to the unit on the eve of her birthday.

"This is just a small way for us to say thank you to all the staff that helped us."

For more information about this year's winners visit rps.org