Bury’s amateur photographers certainly know their onions.

Their stunning snaps beat off competition from their twin town of Tulle — the first international photography contest to be held between the two.

Bury Photographic Society triumphed over their Tulle counteparts, after a total of 60 pictures were judged by professionals.

It was the first event of its kind and organisers are hoping to draw on the success of the competition and make it an annual event.

Each club submitted 30 images each, which were judged online by English and French independent judges, David Butler and Jacky Chevrier.

There were 20 marks for each image up for grabs, and Sarah Davies, from Bury, was the only photographer in either club to be awarded full marks.

Her photograph Friendship, taken in winter sunshine at Clarence Park, shows a couple sitting in the bandstand, framed by a watery sun and a hint of early evening mist.

She had also scooped top awards at the society’s annual awards earlier this year when she won a first prize for the same photograph.

Barrie Kelly, from Radcliffe, was awarded 19 marks by each judge for his picture of a wren with a crane fly in its beak.

The accumulated total of marks gave Bury a win by 937 to Tulle’s 921 points.

French judge Jacky Chevrier said Sarah Davies’s picture was a “superb photograph“ and said “the subtle blend of warm and chill light, the small figures, and the mist suggest an intriguing story behind the picture”.

One of the top marked French pictures was The Accordionist which the English judge described as an “excellent shot, capturing the joy and rhythm of the moment”.

Society member, Martin Henfield, said: “The idea came out of discussions between committee members as a way to look at other people’s photographs and have a interesting competition. So we researched Bury’s twin towns and discovered Tulle has a thriving photographic society.”