Search starts for calendar photos

THE hunt for 12 photographs to grace the next Hospiscare calendar starts now.

The Exeter-based charity is looking for scenes taken within the area covered by Hospiscare's health specialists – Exeter, down to Axminster, up to Tiverton and Cullompton, Okehampton and down to the sea at Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Seaton.

The winning photographs, which will be of postcard views representing all four seasons, will appear in the charity's popular calendar which will be on sale throughout Devon from the summer.

The calendar raises more than £4,000 for Hospiscare each year and is sold in the charity's shops.

Each year the competition attracts around 300 entries and once again the charity is hoping for an enthusiastic response from Echo readers.

The calendar often ends up all over the world as it is bought for friends and families overseas, not just for use as a calendar but as a reminder of home.

Helen Hutter, Hospiscare's retail manager, said: "The Hospiscare calendar is really popular and is often bought as a gift. We like the photographs to show all the different areas where Hospiscare nurses are helping patients and their families, in Exeter, East and Mid Devon, in towns, villages and rural locations.

"So many of the pictures submitted stand out as great photos from people who really love the county they live in."

The judges, from Hospiscare and the Echo, will shortlist 20 landscape orientated pictures for the months of the calendar.

The closing date for entries is March 21 and the shortlist will be published in the Echo on Thursday, March 29.

Readers will then be invited to vote for their favourite and the 12 photographs with the most votes will be featured in the Echo on Thursday, April 19.

The competition is free to enter. Send entries to Susie Healey, Hospiscare, FREEPOST (SWB31068) Exeter EX2 5ZZ or email entries to s.healey@hospiscare.co.uk

Both digital and hard copies can be accepted and will be returned. There is a maximum of three entries per person.

Please include your name, address and contact details and where your photographs were taken.