EADT/The Hearing Care Centre photo competition prizes awarded

THE winners of a unique photographic competition have been revealed.

Launched in the East Anglian Daily Times to coincide with Deaf Awareness Week, “Hear Suffolk” was the brainchild of local hearing care specialists, The Hearing Care Centre, who wanted the photographs to capture musical sounds that hard of hearing or deaf people may not otherwise hear.

The competition caught the imagination of local people, with entries being taken right across the county, from bands playing at Latitude Festival to a group of buskers in Bury St Edmunds, and even trumpet players at the Eye Show.

First place went to Jane Davies from Rumburgh, near Halesworth, second place went to Jo Sweetman from Bury St Edmunds and third place went to Harold Ward from Ipswich. Jane won �250, with Jo winning �100 and Harold �50.

In the children’s category Jessica Metson, also from Ipswich, won first prize and �100.

The judges were EADT photographic editor Andy Abbott, BBC Radio Suffolk’s Mark Murphy, Barry Freeman from the Ipswich & District Photographic Society, and Karen Finch, managing director of The Hearing Care Centre.

“We have been overwhelmed with the response we received to our competition. As it was something a bit different, you never know how it might go, but all the entries we received were fantastic,” said Mrs Finch.

“If through this competition we have raised awareness about hearing loss, and even one person does something about that hearing loss as a result, then we will be more than happy,” she added.