The first two winners of the 2017 #LoveFalmouth photography competition have been announced with the prize winning shots coming from Lewis Gillingham and David Perry.

The six-month long competition's first round had adventure as its theme and provokes some wonderful images of people coasteering, sailing, swimming, paddleboarding and wildlife watching. Nearly 150 submissions were received, ensuring that the judging team had a difficult time choosing the winners. Entries were judged on their subject matter, composition and relevance to the theme.

The Falmouth team loved the originality of Liam's aerial shot, taken high up over Castle Beach and Pendennis Point, highlighting paddlers taking part in a water trawl as part of the Spring Festival clean-ups. Not only does the image give the viewer a sense of Falmouth's special coastal environment but it touches upon how the community

works together to conserve and protect it.

David's shot of a trio of early morning swimmers typified for the judges, Falmouth's enviable coastal lifestyle and why many choose to live, study, work or visit this special part of Cornwall. David said: "We spend a lot of quality time in Falmouth either shopping, eating out, scuba diving or dog walking. We were attending with friends, the Falmouth Spring Festival clean-up event on Gyllyngvase beach.

"The next morning, the weather was gorgeous so we all couldn't resist going to the beach very early to watch the sunrise. The sea looked so inviting so we did something very adventurous - skinny dipping - well it was only 6.30am."

This is the second year of the #LoveFalmouth photography competition organised by the Falmouth BID. The 2016 campaign saw 800 photographs received by the judging panel. An exhibition of the winning shots took place at the end of last year in The Poly and thanks to an offer by M&S Falmouth, many of those shots are currently on display in their café on Market Street.

This year the BID will once again be working alongside its partners 20/20 and the Falmouth Packet and hope to use the competition to highlight all that makes Falmouth such a special place to live in, visit and experience. Each month between April and September, two images will be chosen from those uploaded to Falmouth?s official

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels with the hashtag #LoveFalmouth and the additional hashtag theme for the month. These are: May - #Enjoy; June - #Explore; July - #Summer; August - #Community; September - #Culture.

The monthly winners not only receive a prize donated by our team of local sponsors, but will represent a month in the first official #LoveFalmouth calendar, which will go on sale at retail outlets in the town in time for Christmas.

April's prize sponsors are two businesses delivering top adventure experiences along Falmouth's coastline and estuaries - Koru Kayaking and WESUP Paddleboarding Centre.

Koru Kayaking are giving away a two-hour guided kayak adventure for two, including wetsuit hire. The voucher is valid for 12 months and our winner can explore either the north coast from Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes or Frenchman's Creek from Budock Vean Hotel along the Helford River.

WESUP's prize is a Secret Beach Paddleboarding Tour for two with a pre-tour lesson included. On this mini-expedition, our winner will pack a picnic, snorkel gear and beach towel before heading out to explore Falmouth's coastline and wildlife, starting from Gyllyngvase Beach.

Richard Wilcox, the Falmouth BID manager, said:? We're very much looking forward to the competition this year and I would like to thank 20/20, the Falmouth Packet and our prize partners for helping support the idea. This is once again another good example of businesses working alongside the BID to ensure that exciting projects can take place in our special, award-winning town.

"With so many April entries received, the judging was extremely tough but the images showcase the diversity of the Falmouth landscape and all from very personal perspectives.?"

For full information on the #LoveFalmouth competition, including terms and conditions, visit falmouth.co.uk.