AT the end of last week, the Gazette & Herald, and its sister newspaper The Press, said goodbye to two staff photographers.

Martin Oates, who started at the Malton office in 1973, and Mike Tipping, who joined the company in July 1990.

When Martin joined, he had just qualified as a senior photographer and was the first full-time staff photographer based in Ryedale.

He worked closely with the two reporters at the time, Arthur Bumby, who worked from home in Beadlam and Kent Taylor, who worked from home in Norton.

Martin left the area in 1988 to take up the position of deputy chief photographer in York.

He said: "It was a fantastic time, the people were fantastic and there were some great characters. I loved the area and still do, going out there whenever I can."

Martin and Mike have selected their some of their favourite photographs taken in Ryedale, which we publish in tribute to them today.