This page was last updated at Tuesday, January 12, 2010

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New Forest residents have been putting their own lives in the frame for a unique community photography competition.

Budding photographers from the Heather Road area in Blackfield have been capturing the image they believe best represents the place they live.

The ‘My Heather Road’ competition was launched by Community First New Forest, New Forest District Council’s Brand New Forest and Hampshire Constabulary.

Organiser, PRIME co-ordinator from Community First New Forest, Stephanie Bell, was delighted with the great response and the enthusiasm shown by adults and children in the community.

Imaginative entries were sent in from all age groups and the judges were inspired by the skill shown in the photo composition.

The winner of the 11 and under category, for example, was five-year-old Kieron Staddon, who snapped a photo of a black sack dumped on the pavement next to a park where children were playing.

All entrants were invited to a Christmas celebration event at Blackfield Neighbourhood Centre where popular local radio station presenter Steve Power from Wave 105 hosted the event.

They also had opportunity to raise any concerns highlighted by the photos with local police, council representatives and other agencies.

Prizes included over £100 in high street shopping vouchers, iPod shuffles and mobile phone top-ups, prizes were donated by Community First New Forest, Swaythling Housing Association, Western Challenge Housing Association and the Junior PCSOs.

The winners were: Over 18 category - Debbie Elliott, who submitted a photo of her garden with the fence broken. Judges said it ‘shows a cared-for garden and mindless vandalism spoiling it’.

The runner-up was Kylie Robinson, whose photo of her two children in the playground ride at the neighbourhood centre showed ‘a sense of community, young life beginning in Heather Road, enjoying facilities’.

In the 12-18 age group, the winner was Jessica Jones, age 14, who took a photo of a flower in a garden.

Judges said it gave a ‘positive message, fun and colourful’.

The runner-up was 12-year-old Shannon Logie whose photo of a smashed egg on her window (egging) ‘demonstrated mindless behaviour of a minority which affects people’s lives’.

In the 11 and under category, judges said five-year-old Kieron Staddon’s photo showed a clever juxtaposition between young people having fun in the sunshine while the discarded bin bag spoiled the scene.

The runner-up was Asha Mainwaring, 11, whose photo of the Surestart Children’s Centre showed ‘an appreciation of facilities, well photographed, and gave a positive message for the community to use the centre,’ said the judges.

Wave 105’s Steve Power, said: “This competition was a great initiative to encourage young people to be creative and to get inspired by their surroundings and the local community.

There were some well deserving winners and some budding young photographers too.”

The judges were: Annette Heather, Housing Officer from Western Challenge Housing Association, Matthew Barton, Housing Officer from Swaythling Housing Association, Vicky Bray, Senior Neighbourhood and Tenancy Management Officer from New Forest District Council and Sharon Annell, Placement Manager Interventions South representing Ops JAG.

Junior PCSOs in Blackfield were given single use cameras with free processing following a successful funding bid from the Community Safety Joint Action Group, these were also handed out to local people wishing to enter the competition who did not have other access to cameras.

All entries are currently on exhibition at the centre in a bid to boost pride in the community and gain a better understanding of local residents’ concerns and needs.

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