KEEN photographers are being encouraged to get snapping as the clock ticks down for entries into a wildlife competition.

Conservation charity Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is looking for photographs that focus on the county's wildlife and wild places.

The winning entries will feature in the Trust’s 2015 calendar.

“Last year was an absolutely bumper year for entries with over 350 photographs taken by more than 60 local photographers," said Wendy Carter, the Trust's communications manager.

“We’re constantly impressed by the quality of the photographs and the range of subjects that are captured.

"Last year we saw everything from dragonflies to owls and wildflowers to rainbows.”

The competition is open to everyone and the calendar will feature photographs that highlight the diversity of wildlife across Worcestershire, as well as the range of places that wildlife calls home.

“Worcestershire is such a great county; we’ve got beautiful countryside and some fabulous species of wildlife," said Ms Carter.

"Our nature reserves form part of this but most people enjoy watching wildlife in their gardens, villages, local parks and other green spaces.

“Wherever readers watch wildlife, we’d encourage them to keep a camera handy to make sure they capture the action.

“Many of last year’s winners were either taken in gardens or by people who were just going about their normal business.

"It just goes to show how we can all do something in our own gardens to help wildlife and how wildlife is all around is if we just stop to look.”

Staff at the Trust will be joined in judging the photos by the overall winner for the last two years, Jason Curtis.

The 12 winning photographs will feature as A4 images in the 2015 calendar, with one lucky photographer having their image on the front cover.

The closing date is Friday, April 11.

Entry forms can be downloaded from worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/photography-competition