AMATEUR and professional photographers are invited to enter their best wildlife snap in a competition held to celebrate an exhibition.

The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, opens at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery today featuring exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breath-taking diversity of the natural world.

To celebrate, The Argus, in partnership with Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, is launching a photography competition to find the best wildlife and nature images from Sussex.

The images can be of spectacular landscapes, shots of flowers, birds, insects and animals or stunning seascapes.

The adult winner will be awarded a £50 prize and two multi-attraction annual pass tickets plus a Wildlife Photographer of the Year calendar.

There is an additional category for young people aged under 14 and the prize will be £25 plus a multi attraction family pass (two adults with up to two children) plus a Wildlife Photographer of the Year journal.

Entries can be uploaded to The Argus Camera Club Facebook page and the winners will be chosen on December 10 by staff from Brighton and Hove Museums and The Argus.

While we want to enjoy your photos we need to issue a word of warning. Please do not put yourself at risk while taking any photos or cause harm or distress to any wildlife.

Argus editor Arron Hendy said: “The exhibition now at our stunning museum and art gallery really is fantastic and it provides the perfect inspiration for our competition.The exhibition shows images from across the world but I know members of our camera club will show that they can create stunning pictures closer to home.”

If you are not a member but wish to enter, simply go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/cameraclubargus.

Children cannot join the club so their entries must be uploaded by their parent or guardian.

The exhibition is on from now until Sunday, January 22. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

To book tickets and to see terms go to brightonmuseums.org.uk.

Brighton and Hove resident adult tickets are £3.50 but proof of adult residence is required at museum entrance.