A FUND-RAISING calendar in support of local hospices - which attracted keen photographers who submitted photos to gain a coveted spot - has been launched.

More than 1,500 images from 330 photographers were submitted into this year's competition, run by Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold.

Judges then had to whittle down the entries to the final 12, depicting each month of the year.

The calendar is being sold to raise funds for Webbs' chosen hospice charities of the year including St Richard’s Hospice and Acorns Children’s Hospice in Worcester and Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove.

Each of the hospices will be given hundreds of the colourful calendars to raise vital cash for their work with patients and families with life-threatening illnesses.

Last year's calendar for the hospices proved a great success.

Webbs Chairman, Ed Webb, said that once again there had been lots of fantastic images submitted.

He said: "We had a superb range to choose from which beautifully capture the essence of the changing seasons.

“The calendar is now a regular fixture and I'm sure will be very popular with our customers as well as benefiting our wonderful local hospices."

Alison Parkes, St Richard’s Hospice’s senior community fund-raiser, said: “All the local hospices are extremely grateful for the on-going support from Webbs through initiatives including this calendar.

“It’s only through backing like this that we are able to continue providing the highest level of palliative care for local people who are living with life-threatening illness and also helping their families.”

The calendar is now on sale at the Garden Centre in Wychbold and at Webbs in Kidderminster Road South, West Hagley, priced £4.99.

The 12 winning entrants each received Webbs Gift Vouchers worth £30 and 12 copies of the calendar to give to their friends and family.