A Shropshire church is inviting locals to photograph the parish for a photo competition being held as part of a churches festival.

St John the Baptist church, in Middleton Scriven, will exhibit the best submissions in a photography exhibition during the Festival of Churches taking place across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire on 14 and 15 September.

Pictures can be of the village and parish, local landscape, or the flora and fauna of Middleton Scriven.

The church itself is also a pretty focus for a photo, being a Victorian replacement of a 14th century chapel.

It is a good example of a 19th century gothic revival church and has changed little since its construction.  John the Baptist is the subject of a strikingly colourful west window in the church dated 1845 by William Wailes, and the church also features contemporary glass by David Evans.

"The idea, once we have photos, is that visitors to the exhibition vote for their favourites, so we are encouraging anyone and everyone to take part so we have a good choice for voters," said Ann Constable, one of the organisers.

"We hope we will get some good entries because the best twelve pictures are going to make up the 2014 Middleton Scriven calendar."

The Festival of Churches will see churches across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire open their doors for events like concerts, guided tours and fairs.

Funds raised during the weekend will go to the participating churches and Historic Churches Trust to help support their preservation.

Pictures can be submitted to the photography exhibition up until 5pm on 13 September. The winning photo will be voted for by visitors to the exhibition.

Anni Holden, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Hereford, said: "We already have 250 churches signed up for the weekend. A whole range of different events will be put on by parishioners inspired by the Festival of Churches idea."