A teenage snapper scooped a top prize with a picture that captured the spirit of volunteering.

The Merton Volunteers in Action photo contest challenged amateur photographers to submit their best efforts on the theme.

Last Saturday winner Reece Edwards, from Croydon, a student at Mitcham’s Cricket Green school, picked up his prize – a Sony NEX-C3KB digital camera worth about £300.

His dramatic black and white picture showed a volunteer helping out at the Mencap cafe in Wimbledon.

He said: “I have never won anything before. I am happy I have won.”

The 18-year-old was handed his prize by Absolutely Fabulous actress June Whitfield at Wimbledon’s Centre Court Shopping Centre last weekend.

The contest was run by charity Volunteer Centre Merton (VCM), which asked for the most interesting, creative and engaging images on the theme.

Second place went to a picture of volunteers at Mitcham library knitting club by Colin Robinson, and third place to an image taken at Deen City Farm in Colliers Wood by Ben Muton-Phillips.

There was also a special commendation for the youngest entrant – four-year-old Luca Garofolo.

Subjects picked out in the pictures ranged from fundraisers to part-time policemen, while the locations ranged from kitchens to Santa’s grotto.

The best entries were whittled down to a top three by a judging panel include members from the Wimbledon Guardian, Merton Council, electronics company Sony and the shopping centre.

Sarah Hanningan, recruitment manager at VCM, said the entries were fantastic.