A year nine student has demonstrated the power of the lens after winning an award for an emotive photograph she took.

Savina Tang’s image Silver Linings was labelled the picture with the “most impact” after she snapped a scene in East Ham which restored her faith in humanity.

The 14-year-old, who is a photography student at Kingsford Community School in Kingsford Way, Beckton, said her teacher encouraged her to take part in the Reuters photojournalism competition.

The aim was to capture a snapshot of the community, something the teen found through a cracked window pane.

“I wanted to take a picture which showed that when our society is at its worst there is always that one person who can change the world,” Savina said.

“I was walking around East Ham thinking about what I should take my picture of and I came across a smashed window of a laundrette. I went inside and asked what happened.”

She said the owner explained there had been a fight and the window had been smashed - a stranger off the street was helping him clear up.

Little Ilford School in Manor Park also took part in the competition which was run jointly by Thomson Reuters and local charity, the East London Business Alliance.

Savina added: “I want to do more photography as a hobby now. I was so happy and surprised when I found out I’d won.”