THE hunt is on to find Kent's top natural history photographers in a competition. And you don't have to be an expert to enter.

The competition is open to photographers of any age and the winning picture could just as easily be snapped in your garden as in wildest corners of the county.

The Kent Messenger Group is again supporting the Natural History Photographers of Kent Competition and Exhibition which has, over the last eight years, established a reputation for quality.

Cash prizes of up to £250 and framed certificates will be awarded to the top three entries in each of three age categories, over 18s, 12 to 18 and under 12s. The theme this time is People and Nature.

The judges will select the 100 best photographs, which will be blown up and put on display in the Maidstone Museum and Bentliff Art Gallery in St Faith's Street, Maidstone.

The competition is being run by Maidstone Museum and is supported by the Maidstone Photo Factory as well as the KM Group. Entries are attracted from across the county.

The council's cultural marketing manager, Alison McNaught, said: "The competition gives wildlife photographers the chance to show their work. Even if they don't win first or second prize they still have the chance to display their work in what promises to be a great exhibition."

Narrowing the field to 100 was no easy task when the competition was last held. One of the judges, the Kent Messenger Group's picture services editor, Barry Hollis, said: "There was some extremely good work, some which clearly demonstrated a great deal of patience."

Mr Hollis will be joined on this year's judging panel by Maidstone Museum's Keeper of Natural History, Prof. Dr Ed Jarzembowski, and commercial photographer Paul Dixon.

The deadline for entries, which can be in the form of slides, photographs or digital images, is Friday, March 14. To find out how to take part and obtain an official entry form, contact Alexandra Gurr on 01622 758355 or collect a leaflet from the museum.