A HARD-HITTING collection of pictures showing climate change in action will be showcased at a South Lakes event.

Photographer Ashley Cooper's book entitled Images From a Warming Planet will form part of this year's Festival of the Fells.

Mr Cooper, who is based in Ambleside, will give a presentation on his work.

He said: "Those who attend the festival are mainly people who enjoy hill walking and climbing. Hopefully anyone who will have an interest in the outdoors will also have an interest in climate change, which is what I'm talking about."

Mr Cooper spent 13 years compiling the collection of more than 500 images which reflect the impact of global warming on every continent.

Mr Cooper was motivated to undertake the project after carrying out a photo shoot in Alaska in 2004. Published last year thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, it reveals the shocking effects of climate change on every continent, from the Inuit communities of the Arctic to the Coral Atoll islands of the Pacific Ocean, and shows the damage caused by dependence on fossil fuels: flooding, glacial erosion, and deforestation

The book has been endorsed by many leading campaigners and politicians, including actress Emma Thompson, writer and environmentalist Jonathan Porritt and leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron.

The event runs from September 21-24 with Mr Cooper's talk talking place at 8pm in Zeffirellis jazz bar on the evening of Friday 22.