Image captures town's essence

With a restored crane in the foreground and the Treasure Island fairground in the distance, it incorporates two of the town's major landmarks.

And with the sun coming down and reflecting off the clouds it makes for a delightfully pretty picture.

It was captured by local carpenter David Grout on Saturday for who photography is a hobby.

He said: "Interestingly enough I was on my way back from my workshop in the town to go home when I saw a different picture opportunity.

"I hadn't got my camera with me so I rushed home and got it. I told my wife I had seen something and I must go right away.

"But when I got there that opportunity had gone.

"I was then walking along the basin when I thought blimey - the cloud and lighting just looked fantastic.

"I shot off six pictures without adjusting any of the settings.

"Once I had it on my computer I thought yes, that doesn't look too bad."

Mr Grout mentioned the image - taken on a Nikon D700 Digital SLR - to his father who suggested submitting it to the Express & Star's Star Witness.

The 64-year-old grandfather of three said he does not like pictures which have been edited too much so simply cropped it and sharpened the quality.

He added: "It was a beautiful sunset and the clouds were reflecting in the basin.

"It was a spur of the moment opportunity and I knew I had to be quick to get the lighting as it was. Just a few moments later it had gone.

"When I saw it on screen it was possibly even better than I thought it was going to be."

Having run his own business for 30 years, Mr Grout said he will soon be retiring and plans to spend more time painting, walking and taking pictures.