A RETIRED professor from Ramsbottom has been highly commended in a photography competition.

Maggie Henfield narrowly missed out on the top spot but received glowing comments from judges in WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre’s 40th anniversary photography competition.

Judges were impressed with the former UCLAN University professor's picture of a chick wandering through daises.

The photograph was praised for its sharpness, colour and composition, while judges also remarked it had a “touch of comedic value.”

Mrs Henfield, of Ramsbottom, has been a keen photographer since the age of 18, but only after retiring five years ago was she able to devote more time and became a member of Bury Photographic Society.

A keen visitor to WWT Martin Mere, Mrs Henfield says she’s normally the last person off the car park at night and has nearly been locked in overnight on a few occasions.

She said: “No matter how many times you come, there’s always something new at Martin Mere. When I wake up in the morning, my default is usually should I go to Martin Mere today?”

“One time whilst taking pictures by the Swan Link hide, my lens hood fell off my new camera and into the mere at feeding time for the swans, as they couldn’t be disturbed I had to drive back the next day to pick it up. But it was a good enough excuse to go back to Martin Mere for the day.”

The competition was launched at WWT Martin Mere in March to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the wetland centre opening.

Since then the competition has received 396 entries to showcase the brilliant and varied wildlife on display there.