Ipswich mayor Glen Chisholm helped launch the annual Town Hall photo exhibition yesterday.

The display, organised by the Ipswich and District Photographic Society, features 280 prints and 250 digital images selected by an independent photographer out of more than 1,000 entries.

Traditionally, the mayor selects his favourite work from the display, and awards the winning photographer the Mayor’s Cup at last night’s awards presentation at Ipswich Golf Club. Exhibition secretary David Robinson said: “It’s a nice tradition, and it is a big honour because you are going from 1,000 [images] down to the one that is their absolute favourite.”

Mr Robinson hailed the broad range of entrants to this year’s exhibition from the 80-member society, and the display’s place in the town.

“Although they are local photographers they don’t always take local shots,” he added.

“Natural history and landscapes are our greatest shots, but we have all sorts of genres.

“We always get lots of people so it is popular with people in the town, which is really nice.”

The society has held an annual exhibition since 1926, with the Town Hall having hosted the event since the 1970s.

Mayor Glen Chisholm said: “There is an amazing quality of work here, some really impressive pieces.

“It’s really hard to choose the winner, but in the end I went with the one that captured me the most when I first saw it.”

To see which image Mr Chisholm selected, and the rest of the work on display, visit the Town Hall council chamber. The display runs until March 12.