The North Dorset Tourism Photo Competition culminated in an award ceremony held at the Exchange in Sturminster Newton, celebrating the stunning beauty and vibrant community spirit of North Dorset.

This exciting event on Saturday was attended by local representatives from the towns involved in the project, showcasing the region’s rich tapestry of landscapes and cultural heritage through photography.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Mr Michael Dooley, who announced the winners and made the presentations, congratulated the participants for their exceptional work and on the talent displayed by local photographers.

The competition recognized outstanding photographers from each of the five participating towns – Gillingham, Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury, Blandford and Sherborne – with awards presented to the winner of each town from the top three photographs of the various categories.

The highlight of the morning was the announcement of Mark Pike from Sturminster Newton as the overall competition winner, with organisers saying his captivating image ‘truly encapsulated what makes North Dorset special’.

The North Dorset Tourism Group says it organized this event with the aim of promoting local tourism and encouraging residents and visitors alike to ‘explore all that this beautiful part of Dorset has to offer’.

A spokesperson for the group added: ‘It was wonderful to see such a diverse range of perspectives on North Dorset through these photographs. We believe that events like this will inspire more tourists to visit our area and discover its unique charm.’

In addition to contestants, the event was attended by tourism group members Barry von Clemens, Val Pothecary, Pauline Batstone and Colin Stevens.

The winners from each town were:

Gillingham – Matthew Barker
Sturminster Newton – Mark Pike
Shaftesbury – Olley Phillips
Blandford – Paul Dibben
Sherborne – Catherine McLinley
Overall Winner – Mark Pike

The North Dorset Tourism Group, which is dedicated to promoting tourism across the North Dorset area, says plans are already underway for further initiatives aimed at enhancing awareness about the area as an attractive holiday destination.