READER Marc Henley enjoyed a day in the Adver offices yesterday after winning a photography competition.

Three weeks ago the 39-year-old, who enjoys taking landscape photographs in his spare time, found out he had won the Swindon Advertiser Framing Wiltshire competition after entering his photo of Silbury Hill in the snow via email.

His prize was £500 in cash and to have the winning picture framed.

He also spent the day shadowing Adver picture editor Stuart Harrison on some of his jobs around the town, including coverage of a fire that raged throughout Wednesday night and most of yesterday in Cheney Manor.

He even had the opportunity to take a few of his own snaps, and have a picture taken with shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, who visited Swindon College.

It was the first time that Marc, who comes from Stratton, had entered the competition, which was sponsored by BMI The Ridgeway Hospital.

He said: “I was overwhelmed when I found out I had won the competition.

“I was on holiday in Cornwall at the time so I had a few beers to celebrate.”

The graphic designer found it particularly interesting to see how busy it could get working in the photographic department of a newspaper. He said: “It was very interesting. I went to the fire first of all and they wouldn’t let us anywhere near it so I experienced the frustrations involved with that – and then I went and met Ed Balls in a juice bar.

“It certainly wasn’t what I was expecting when I woke up this morning.”

Marc found the experience interesting and hopes to bring some of what he learned into his own photography.

“I really mainly do landscapes so it was good to see about other kinds of photographs.

“It was a really good prize. I would definitely recommend other people to get involved and enter next time.”

Marc first became interested in photography at college.

He said: “I do graphic design and I thought that doing some photography too would be useful.

“I went to art college and we did everything, including some photography. But I really got interested when it started to go digital and it was a lot cheaper.

“I do a lot of walking and that’s when I take many of my photos, which is why they are mainly landscapes.”