A photograph of a newborn Enfield Lock baby has won a national award.

The image of premature Francis Hodgson receiving light therapy at Barnet Hospital won the Julie Dorrington Award for Outstanding Clinical Photography in a Clinical Environment at the Wellcome Image Awards 2016.

It was taken by medical photographer David Bishop, who is based at the Royal Free Hospital.

The image shows Francis, aged 16 days at the time the picture was taken, being treated with ultraviolet light in the Starlight neonatal unit.

Francis was born 12 weeks premature and weighed just 2lbs 2oz at birth; he is now 14 months old and doing well.

His mum, Angela Brightly, from Enfield Lock, said: “He has come such a long way since then and I am happy with how he is developing.

“He still has some problems with his lungs, but he is so much better than he was then.”

Mr Bishop said he was surprised to have won.

He said: “I knew while I was taking it that that the picture was something special, the staff who work there are amazing and it is such a tranquil space.

“It was very important while taking pictures to maintain that tranquillity and not be disruptive.

“It’s a very special unit, I really wanted to show it off to the world.”

“I’m very grateful to win the award - I’m still in shock; photography is my life so it is lovely to be recognised for it.”

Prize judge Fergus Walsh, the BBC’s medical correspondent, said: “Cocooned in an incubator, a tiny premature baby sleeps while receiving ultraviolet phototherapy to combat the threat of jaundice.

“The whole image is cast in a beautiful blue light – the judges felt it perfectly captured the vulnerability of a newborn, whilst keeping a respectful and discreet distance from the subject.”