An East Budleigh wildlife photographer has received national recognition after his snap was featured in a BBC charity calendar.

David White, 70, photographed a family of polecats around a mile outside the village during the summer and the reaction from wildlife enthusiasts prompted him to enter the BBC Countryfile 2019 calendar competition.

He was ‘astonished’ to discover that the picture not only made the front cover of the calendar, which is sold to raise funds for Children in Need, but he was also selected as the winning entry from more than 40,000 photos.

David, who has had a ‘life-long’ fascination with wildlife, told The Journal how he got the photo taken at Hayes Wood.

He said: “It was entirely by chance. In the early summer, the vegetation is really dense and a lot of animals are really good at hiding in it.

“I was looking for movement in places where I don’t expect to see movement and sounds where I don’t expect to hear sounds.

“When I saw the family of pole cats, at first I thought they were rabbits – when a whole family appeared I was amazed.

“The photo looks like they are looking right at me, when in fact they are looking for the sounds of the camera clicking.”

After friends and fellow wildlife enthusiasts told him how impressive the snap was, he entered the national competition.

He added: “I am highly critical of my own work but everyone who has an interest in wildlife was very excited which is what tempted me to enter.

“I was astonished – first I was told I was in the top 40,000, then the top 12, and then I wanted to know who won and it turned out it was me.”

Otter Valley Association member David, who has lived in East Budleigh for nine years, said his interest in wildlife peaked during his time living in the Cotswolds. He has been taking digital photos of animals for the last five years.

Much of his work, including snaps taken of the beavers living in the River Otter, are held at Fairlynch Museum, in Budleigh Salterton, as a way of highlighting the wildlife that lives in the Otter Valley.

To order one of the calendars go to https://www.hcscalendar.co.uk/