The 2017 entries for photography competition Sounds of Suffolk, created by The Hearing Care Centre

Highly Commended - Dan Charman - Smiling Needham Horse, Needham Lake

Archant

Winner 2nd - Stephen Squirrell - Tidal Flow at Felixstowe Ferry

Judges for Sounds of Suffolk, a contest created by family-run business The Hearing Care Centre to raise awareness about untreated hearing loss, picked their winning entries this month.

Supported by Archant Suffolk, the competition aims to encourage sufferers to seek help at their earliest convenience.

Winner 3rd - Josephine Sweetman - The Sound of a Marching Band, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds

Judges, BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Mark Murphy, professional photographer and Suffolk entrepreneur Tony Pick and the centre’s managing director Karen Finch looked over more than 100 entries submitted by photographers from across East Anglia.

They chose James Stannard, whose photo depicted the sounds of the sea rolling onto the shore at Covehithe near Southwold, as their overall winner.

Highly Commended - Paul Smith - Singing Whitethroat, Minsmere

He collected the top prize of £250.

Judge Tony Pick said: “There were many outstanding images taken around Suffolk that really captured many of the sounds we take for granted.

Highly Commended - Mike Constance - Making Hay While the Bells Ring, Polstead Church

“It was a difficult decision to choose the winning photograph.”

Dan Charman’s Smiling Needham Horse was highly commended by judges for the Sounds of Suffolk competition, launched this year to raise awareness of hearing loss.

Highly Commended - Mick Webb - Christmas Choir in Felixstowe

Paul Smith’s Singing Whitethroat snapped at Minsmere was also ranked highly while Deborah Sewell’s The Loud Roar of Bikes and Gentle Splatter of Splayed Sand, taken at Blaxhall Motorcross, were also on the list of highly commended entries.

Stephen Squirrell placed second with his Tidal Flow at Felixstowe ferry and Josephine Sweetman took home third prize for her The Sound of a Marching Band captured in Bury St Edmunds.

Highly Commended - Mary Stephens - Lapping of water against the boats, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft

Ms Finch said she was thrilled with how the inaugural competition had gone. She added: “We’ve been thrilled by the numbers of entries we’ve received and it’s great to see how many people have embraced our theme of Suffolk sounds.

“One in six of us here in Suffolk are affected by hearing loss and many of these people miss out on the sounds captured in this competition.

Highly Commended - Deborah Sewell - The Loud Roar of Bikes and Fentle Splatter of Sprayed Sand - Blaxhall Motorcross

“If at least one person has been spurred on to seek out help with their hearing loss off the back of this, then I will be very pleased.”

It is hoped Sounds of Suffolk, which also aimed to raise awareness of hearing loss, will return again next year.

Highly Commended - James Stannard - Sound of Autumn, Eleveden Forest

Highly Commended - David Marshall - The Sound of Silence, Ipswich

Highly Commended - Alexandra Coe - Bardwell Music Festival