JUDGING from the number and standard of entries in the dorsetforyou photographic competition, it is clear just how beautiful the county is and how hard it must have been to pick a winner.

More than 400 entries showcased the sea in all its moods, unusual views of the built environment, stunning landscapes and wildlife.

From a final shortlist of 14 pictures, the judges chose Wimborne’s Clifton Beard’s Harvest Time In Horton as the winning picture.

But the judges were tied between Bridport’s Ray Beer and Poole’s Leslie Budzynski for second and third place.

So with the help of Twitter followers, who voted for their favourite picture, the second place prize went to Leslie Budzynski’s Corfe Castle In The Snow, with Ray Beer’s Eggardon picture third.

The winners will get to choose prizes from an Explore Dorset package, including lunch for two at the Lord Bute Hotel, a family ticket to the Dorset County Museum and a one-year pass to Moors Valley Country Park.

Martin Bottomley, website manager at dorsetforyou.com, said: “We were keen to run the competition to highlight what a beautiful and diverse county Dorset is. We were thrilled with the number of entries we got for the competition. Dorset is such a beautiful county and the range of pictures we received made judging the competition extremely difficult.”

Following the success of the photography competition, the website plans to make it a regular event.

Mr Beer, who sold his photography business in London 12 years ago when the industry went digital, said he carries his camera everywhere he goes and took the shot of Eggardon while walking his dog.

Now Mr Beer admits he is a great fan of digital photography and his Eggardon view was manipulated on the computer.

A selection of entries can be seen on the dorsetforyou website.