THE winners have been announced in the Daily Echo and Castle Cameras Air Festival 2017 photographic competition.

Two stunning images were selected after judges studied hundreds of entries.

The four-day festival, from August 31 to September 3, provided an abundance of opportunities for talented photographers.

From the aerial displays and beach-based activities to night air entertainment and a vintage festival, all were represented in the entries.

Representatives from the Daily Echo and from Castle Cameras were staggered by the quality of the pictures submitted.

After much deliberation they chose Emma Ward's incredible image of the Red Arrows as the winner of the adult category and 15-year-old Linus Etchingham's dazzling night display image as the junior winner.

Emma will receive £300 in Castle Cameras vouchers and Linus will be given £100 in vouchers.

Waitrose worker Emma, 38, from Parkstone, said she will use her vouchers towards replacing her camera.

She said: "I have recently done a few courses to develop my skills and I take my camera with me wherever I go.

"I'd like to thank the seagull in the picture for sitting there so patiently as the display went on around him. I'm very pleased to have won."

Linus, who lives in Christchurch and attends King Edward's school in Southampton, said he attended the air festival on three consecutive days and evenings to ensure he took some great pictures.

His winning image, which depicts a helicopter with the moon behind it, was taken on Friday September 1 from East Overcliff Drive.

He said: "I was given a camera for my ninth birthday and since then I have become more and more interested in taking pictures.

"I am mainly involved in wildlife photography but I enjoyed the air festival. I am very happy I won the competition."