Budding photographers inspired by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park could win fantastic prizes with their best shots.

The park has launched a photography competition, Park Focus, for young people aged eight to 26.

As part of the Year of Young People, the park authority wants to find out how young people across the country experience the area.

It wants youngsters to share their photographs of the park on social media - or by email - with a short description that explains the story behind the picture and what it means to them.

This could be experiences of visiting, living, working or learning in the national park or simply a connection with the area.

There are three age categories for the competition – eight to 12 years, 13 to 17 years and 18 to 26.

The prizes on offer within each age category are, 1st, a GoPro action camera and Columbia outdoor jacket; 2nd, an adventure day at Forest Holidays Strathyre and, 3rd, a family pass for four to SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium (age categories 8-12 and 13-17 years) and a shark feeding experience for two at SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium (age category 18-26 years).

Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “We see this photo competition as a great opportunity to celebrate our young people and for them to show what the National Park means to them.

“We look forward to receiving their entries and hearing about the experiences young people have had of this unique and beautiful place.”

To enter, all you have to do is share a photograph of the park and what it means to you on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and include the hashtags #ParkFocus and your age category (#age8to12, #age13to17 or #age18to26) and tag the National Park Authority (@lomondtrossachs).

For those too young to have a social media account, then a parent or guardian can post the image on their behalf or entries can be emailed to digital@lochlomond-trossachs.org.

Entries must be posted on social media (or received by email) by 23.59hrs on December 31 and the winning images from each age category will be announced by January 31 via the national park authority’s social media channels and featured on the competition webpage, and at Balmaha visitor centre.

Winners will be chosen for each age category by the park’s youth committee and a park representative.

The youth committee is made up of 14 young people who live in or near to the park who are passionate about supporting the work the authority does.

Further information about the competition and full terms and conditions can be found at lochlomond-trossachs.org/parkfocus/.