Arts group, the North Light Potters, have been awarded first prize in the Holmfirth Arts Festival ‘Art in the Woods’ sculpture trail competition.

The pottery group, based at North Light Gallery, Armitage Bridge, created an installation of hanging leaves entitled ‘Turn Over a New Leaf’ which was installed in woodland above Holme Styes Reservoir along with 19 other works by local artist.

The group is taught by artist Sue Jenkins and includes students from Kirklees College.

Visitors to the sculpture trail were invited to vote for their top three favourite artworks and over 600 people voted within 10 days.

The group won £400 which was presented by exhibition curators Sarah Branson and Jamie Frost at a special award ceremony at Choppards Mission.

Ms Jenkins said: “We’re tickled pink!

“Some of my students have been doing this for quite a few years but some are brand new.

“This project gave everybody the chance to contribute and I’m really pleased and proud of them.”

Second prize was awarded to Holmfirth artist Mick Kirkby-Geddes with his artwork called ‘Litter’ which used recycled litter from the woods to create a glade of metal flowers and football toadstools.

Mr Kirkby-Geddes said: “I wanted to make something positive from it and hopefully make people think twice about dropping litter in future.”

In third place was Judith Brown’s giant white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, complete with fob watch, made from recycled plastic bags, chicken wire and other recycled materials.

Curator Sarah Branson said: “It has been a real treat to witness so many people out enjoying Art in the Woods and to overhear much discussion and excitement about the artworks.

“I hope it is the stuff of memories and of inspiration.”

Other installations included the outline of a gigantic foot made out of wire, a flock of ceramic swallows, a cairn of felted stones and giant ceramic frogs.

The Art in the Woods sculpture trail is staged every two years as part of Holmfirth Arts Festival with the support of T Kirk Forestry, which owns the land around Holme Styes Reservoir.