USUALLY seen floating high in the sky, this snap of a hot air balloon has been crowned The Journal's Picture of the Week. The photograph was taken by Linda Isbell, of Plumtrees, Oulton Broad, last June when she went for her first ever ride.

USUALLY seen floating high in the sky, this snap of a hot air balloon has been crowned The Journal's Picture of the Week. The photograph was taken by Linda Isbell, of Plumtrees, Oulton Broad, last June when she went for her first ever ride.

'It was a lovely experience and I'd love to go again,' said Mrs Isbell, who took off from Wymondham.

The ghost-like figures in the background of the image are actually inside the balloon, straightening it out before take-off.

Mrs Isbell will receive her photograph in a 12in x 10in frame, mounted and inscribed, worth more than �60, from Picture Studios, of London Road North, Lowestoft. The winning picture will also go forward to a six-monthly winners' final contest, when she will be in with a chance of claiming a 12in x 18in photo block worth �130.

We are accepting images for next week's competition. They can be

of any subject, whether they are entertaining snapshots, luscious landscapes or a close-up brush

with nature. They must be taken by amateur photographers, and we'd prefer digital pictures. We do accept prints, but they need to be copies as we cannot guarantee their return.

Send your picture with your name, address and contact details to richard.wood@archant.co.uk marking your e-mail Journal Photo Competition. Prints can be sent to Picture of the Week, The Journal, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1NB.