A BUDDING photographer made it to the final of a national competition with a stunning image of Old Leigh.

Keith Payne, from Benfleet, beat off competition from more than 400 entries to make it into the final of rail operator c2c’s Where2Next contest.

The competition was designed to celebrate the impressive sights along the c2c line, which runs from Shoebury to London Fenchurch Street.

Mr Payne said: “Old Leigh is one of my favourite local places for early morning photography in the winter. It’s only 10 minutes from home and the opportunities for a good picture around this little town are vast. No two mornings are the same, as the light and tide vary to give you many choices of picture from the same spot.”

He missed out on the top spot, with the judging panel voting for an image of a seagull perched on a wall in front of London Bridge.

The prize for the contest was £250 worth of vouchers for Intu Lakeside shopping centre, in Thurrock.