Bebber won for an image of the Libyan leader Colonel Gadaffi, who is seen stading  behind protective glass during a military parade in Green Square, Tripoli. The ceremony was held to celebrate his forty years as head of state on 01 September 2009.

The photograph was selected from among 7713 images submitted this year in what has become the UK's most prestigious press photography competition. Supported by Canon, the Press Photographer's Year awards top prize to photographers in 16 categories.

This year, 119 images have been selected as a final edit, which will go on show at the National Theatre from 10 July until 11 September. The images will also be published in The Press Photographer's Year 09-10 book, which will also feature last year's winners across 240 pages.

The ceremony also saw five Getty Images photographers leave with first prizes in categories such as News Folio of the Year, the Arts, Sports Folio of the Year, Sports Specialist Folio of the Year and Winter Olympic Single.

Kieran Doherty and Dylan Martinez of Reuters also won top prizes respectively in the News and Features categories. The Guardian also received two awards - one for its photographer David Levene and the other for a digital film produced by Felix Clay.

For more information, visit www.theppy.com.

The full list of winners: