A NEW initiative has been launched by All Saints Church and Odiham Parish Council’s Community Committee.

The two groups have joined forces to launch a ‘Community Calendar’ designed to promote the village, community, environment and event dates within the parish.

It is hoped that it can now become a regular yearly feature within the village.

In terms of content for the calendar Odiham Parish Council and All Saints have been asking residents to enter their best photos from around the area into a competition that will now go towards the creation of the 2017 calendar.

More than 100 photos were submitted which have now been whittled down to just 12 by judges from the nearby RAF station, All Saints church and parish council.

As well as adorning many a wall around the village, the calendar will also serve as a monthly ticket into prize draws.

A part of the calendar will be removable which will then become a ticket for free entry to the monthly village prize draw with the prizes willingly and inventively supported by community businesses.

Some of the first prizes available include a Christmas turkey, a £100 voucher at the Bel & Dragon, and a Christmas fruit and vegetable box.

Speaking after the launch of the initiative, parish council chairman Jon Hale said: “Congratulations to the winning photographers.

“We clearly have some very talented members of our community - and each of these superb photos have been selected from over 100 amazing shots sent in to us over the last 12 months.”

The non-profit project will put any revenues into the fund for the production of the 2018 calendar and All Saints general fund.

Rev Alison Brown from All Saints added: “This is a truly wonderful community initiative, one that we can all enjoy, find useful; it brings community co-operation and values and highlights what a wonderful parish we have, what we can do, how we can work together and support each other, and have some fun and excitement too!

“It really shows what a beautiful parish we live in.”