A POPULAR photographic competition has focused on the sights that make Basingstoke a blooming good place to live.

The competition, which was held as part of Basingstoke in Bloom 2006 and organised by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, was open to all local photographers, regardless of their skills.

Scores of snap-happy residents from across the borough sent in images they believed showed the area at its best.

Overall winner Tony Morris, of Riverside Close, Overton, was celebrating after scooping the top prize for the second year running with his photograph of a pheasant.

Mr Morris, who is retired and has been a keen amateur photographer for about 10 years, said he had captured the image by chance.

He explained: "I had gone out looking for bluebells to photograph and was lucky to see the pheasant. I am always on the lookout for a good picture.

"Some days I go out with the camera to look for things and other times, if I've got it with me and I see something, I'll just take a picture.

"It is a question of using your eyes, and cropping out the stuff that is not interesting. Then I think to myself, would I want to hang it on the wall?"

Winners were chosen in five categories - urban and rural landscape, history and heritage, flora and fauna, events, and monochrome, with Mr Morris picking up first prize in the monochrome category.

All the winners will receive trophies at a presentation ceremony later this year. As overall winner, Mr Morris will scoop an extra cash prize of £30, while each category winner will receive £20, with second and third place securing £15 and £10 respectively.

The photographic competition was one of four held as part of Basingstoke in Bloom, sponsored by Winterthur Life and Eli Lilly.

The other contests were for the best front gardens in the borough, the best primary school gardens in the borough, and the new Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards.

The winners of these will also be presented with their awards at a ceremony later this year.

Roll of honour

Overall winner
Tony Morris, from Overton - "Pheasant in Woodland"

Category A: Urban and Rural Landscape
1. Nick Hawkins, from Chineham - "Hay Bales near Winchester"
2. Tanya Ball, from Kempshott, Basingstoke - "Poppies at Gabriel Park"
3. Michael French, from Basingstoke - "Bridge to Festival Place"

Category B: History and Heritage
1. Pedro Holt, from Basingstoke - "Barn, Old Basing"
2. Ken Pardy, from Basingstoke - "Holy Ghost Ruins"
3. Brian Self, from Basingstoke - "Cross Street"
Highly commended: Alan Hughes, from Kingsclere - "St Mary's Church, Kingsclere"; Brian Self, from Basingstoke - "St Michael's Church"

Category C: Flora and Fauna
1. Lewis Mulrennan-Cook, from Basingstoke - "Blackbird at Black Dam"
2. Pedro Holt, from Basingstoke - "Snowdrops, Vyne Road"
3. Brian Self, from Basingstoke - "Mrs Mallard and Kids, Eastrop Park"
Highly commended: Brian Self, from Basingstoke - "Geese at Black Dam Ponds"; Sarah Joly, from Lychpit, Basingstoke - "Bee at The Vyne"

Category D: Events
1. Basil Slann, from Kingsclere - "Inside Balloon"
2. Basil Slann, from Kingsclere - "Lift Off"

Category E: Monochrome
1. Tony Morris, from Overton - "Early Morning Housework"
2. John H Thomas, from Overton - "Churchill Way Walkway at Night"
3. Lisa Chandler, of South View, Basingstoke - "Woodland Style"
Highly commended: Tony Morris, from Overton - "Teasle"; Lisa Chandler, of South View, Basingstoke - "The Vyne"