SEVERAL photographers from across Somerset have made it into a charity calendar to celebrate the beauty of the Somerset Levels.

Amateur photographer Lee Penny’s photo of the sunrise over Knapp Bridge on the River Tone features on the front cover of the charity calendar.

Housebuilder Wain Homes launched a charity competition and asked locals to submit photographs of the towns, villages, beaches, wildlife and countryside landscapes of the Levels.

Wain Homes then produced a 2024 calendar featuring the best 12 images and donated copies to charity shops in Burnham-on-Sea to raise money for good causes.

Lee was presented with a voucher to spend on new photographic equipment after his photograph was chosen by judge Tim Lethaby, editor of Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News, as the overall winner.

Lee said: “Photography is a hobby of mine and I always try to take a camera with me when I’m out and about on the Somerset Levels.

“I saw this competition on social media and thought I would give it a go but never for one moment thought I would win.

"There are some amazing photographs in the calendar so I’m delighted my picture was chosen for the front cover.”

Franchesca Detain, Wain Homes’ sales manager, said: “We know the Somerset Levels is such a sought-after place to live, as many of our residents at our Brue Reach development in East Huntspill told us the landscapes and countryside were important factors in their decision to move here.

“But we couldn’t believe both the number and the high quality of photographs which were submitted for our calendar which help to show off the genuine beauty of the area.

"Lee’s picture encapsulates what a special place this is and I would like to thank everyone who submitted photographs and also to Tim Lethaby for his help in picking our winners.”

Wain Homes is building a collection of three and four-bed homes at Brue Reach in the village of East Huntspill and has just released its four-bedroom Haversham show home for sale.

The property, on the market for £440,000 has been fully furnished by professional interior designers and includes more than £25,000 of extras and upgrades, making it a ready-to-walk-into new home.

Franchesca added: “It has been a privilege to build new homes in East Huntspill and we hope lots of people get enjoyment from our calendars which are available from St Margaret’s Hospice Shop, Sue Ryder and The Children’s Society, all on High Steet in Burnham-on-Sea.

“We are down to our final few homes now at Brue Reach and we’re proud to have created a new place for people to live in this gorgeous location.”