INSPIRING images captured to prompt reflection have been celebrated in a special competition organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town.

And after a difficult judging session, the winners of the competition were announced during a special ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Swindon Eric Shaw at the Mayor’s Parlour yesterday afternoon.

Pupils from four primary schools and two secondary schools took part in the competition, which is taking place up and the country, tasked with capturing a scene along the theme of reflection. Each of the images were then judged by a panel before puting forward each of the winners to be considered at district level.

Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town member Pam Jackson said the judges had faced an unenviable task of selecting the winning images from a number of strong entries. She said: “Some of the ideas that we have seen from relatively young people are really quite inspiring. They each had to submit three photos that in some way expressed the theme of reflection – there were quite a few photographs of puddles and ponds, each capturing a reflection.

“They were also allowed to use IT software to develop the images further to express the theme.”

Winning the junior category was Bishopstone Primary School pupil Efe Keskinbicki, whose pictures of a frozen pond, a mirror and the sea, each depicted a reflection in their own way.

Taking second place was Eldene Primary pupil Lyla Tait, while fellow Eldene pupil Hamza Jemmeh was awarded third place. Each winner received a certificate and book token.

Each of the intermediate age category prizes went to Ridgeway School pupils, with Anastasia Gale winning first prize, while Jodie Chung was presented with second prize. Unable to decide on a third place, a joint third price went to Rebecca Honeywell and Holly Stokes.

In the senior category, Dorcan Academy pupil Thomas Armstrong took the first place, with second place also going to Dorcan pupil Stacey Fitchet. Third place was awarded to Ridgeway School pupil Melissa Jefferies.

Mike Welsh of the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town said the judges had received some “brilliant photographs” as part of the competition.

He said: “The Rotary Club is not just about raising money for good causes – although obviously that is something we do a lot of, like the duck race we hold every year in May. But it is also about engaging with the local community and raising opportunities for children to do things like this.

"There are so many good things about Swindon that we wanted the children to celebrate.”