IMAGES of the Boxing Day floods are being sought for a prestigious photography exhibition as part of this year’s Saltaire Festival.

The devastating impact of the deluge will be the theme of a unique event to be held in the imposing roof space of Salts Mill this September.

Entitled The Power of Water, local photographers are being invited to submit pictures for display so residents can tell through their own images, the dramatic effects on themselves and their community.

“Saltaire’s existence and history is tied to water - the river and canal remain an integral part of life in the village,” said Ros Garside, the chairman of the festival’s board of trustees.

“This year is the 200th anniversary of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and we wanted to acknowledge this.

“Then, after the floods last December we felt it was important to record such a significant event and give residents the opportunity to share how it affected them.

“We’ve already seen some striking images of the floodwaters and how they offered a different perspective on much-loved landmarks and familiar views.

“They also caused damage and distress, but this galvanised many, many people to work hard and help each other to recover - their stories are inspiring and illustrate the community spirit we know exists in Saltaire.”

This year’s Saltaire Festival takes place between Friday, September 9 and Sunday, September 18 and more details of the programme will be announced in due course.

The first major event to be confirmed is an intimate concert by jazz singer Clare Teal on Saturday, September 10. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website - www.saltairefestival.co.uk - or from Saltaire Visitor Information Centre.

The exhibition is open to all ages and each photographer can submit up to three pictures, with a maximum file size of 5MB per photo.

To submit photos, visit saltairewaterphotos.co.uk and follow the instructions, rather than contacting the mill directly.

Saltaire Festival is a registered charity and its aim is to advance education in the arts and in the culture and heritage of Saltaire and its surrounding area, particularly by a planned programme of annual events to help young and old gain new creative knowledge and skills.

To become a festival volunteer e-mail volunteers@saltairefestival.co.uk.