A MATURE student from Mere has reached the finals of the South West Tourism photography competition.

Rosemary Cox, a student on the photography course of the Open College of the Arts, which is associated with the Open University, won through to the last round of the photo challenge with her picture taken at last year's Mere carnival.

The aim of the challenge is to represent the south-west as "the ideal place for business, for leisure, for work and for pleasure".

Mrs Cox's photo is of Ashleigh Read, of Pimperne, in Dorset.

Ashleigh was a first-prize winner in the afternoon children's carnival.

Mrs Cox (63) said: "I have enjoyed every minute of the distance learning course with the Open College of the Arts, in Barnsley. My tutor gave valuable feedback and encouragement by post and by e-mail on each assignment and I was able to work at my own pace over 18 months.

"The emphasis is on the artistic side of photography, without overlooking the technical angles," Mrs Cox said.

"It has been challenging, but great fun, and has given me the impetus to enter competitions such as this," she said.

The selection of the winning photographs takes place at a gala evening in Exeter on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Mrs Cox was a runner-up in Wiltshire Police's 999 photographic competition.

She received an award at police headquarters, in Devizes.