In pictures: Changing colours of autumn in Shropshire

The last throes of summer have quickly been whisked away and replaced with darker nights and colder temperatures, prompting people to dig out their oversized jumpers.

British summertime will end on Sunday when the clocks go back an hour, making the evenings even darker and the mornings lighter.

To mark the seasonal change, the Shropshire Star asked its readers to send in some of their autumnal snaps capturing some stunning scenes across the county. Many of the pictures submitted were taken at some of the National Trust's sites across Shropshire.

• Whether you are a complete novice armed with a camera or even a smartphone, the Shropshire Star would like to see your autumn pictures at Star Witness.

• As well gaining bragging rights over all your friends and family, the best picture each month will be rewarded with £100 and it could be featured in print in the paper.

• To be in with a chance of winning go to www.shropshirestar.com/starwitness and chose the appropriate gallery to upload your photo.

• If you are a winner someone will be in touch.

As well as capturing some of the scenic views, many readers have been able to capture some of the wildlife that has come out to play.

One of these is a 'super squirrel' which was captured in Oakengates by Mark Paton. Mr Paton also took a picture of two stags locking antlers at Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury.

While out and about Mr Paton was able to capture a stunning photo of a tunnel made from leaves in Oakengates, with different shades of greens. He calls the photo 'An autumn walk through the Cockshutt in Oakengates'.

Another photo showing off the different animals that can be found at this time of year is one taken by Kevin Rogers, from Wellington.

Mr Rogers took the photo 'Canada Geese at sunset' while he was out and about at Atcham bridge, which shows the sun setting over trees while the birds fly away.

And it's not just nature that has featured in the snaps, as one picture captured by John Melhuish shows a family collecting conkers in Benthall, near Telford.

Mr Melhuish, from Leegomery, said he came across the family while he was walking around the grounds of Benthall Hall, where he took the photo titled 'Collecting conkers'.

He said: "I parked my car and went for a walk with some friends, which is when I came across the family.

"I took quite a few photos of them, but this is the one I loved the most.

"I thought conkers were very autumnal and it made a lovely picture. I do enjoy taking pictures when I have the time, and I do regularly take my camera out and about with me.

"I saw some photos that went on shropshirestar.com and noticed they didn't have many featuring people. So when I took this I thought it be perfect.

"I do like taking photos in autumn but the lighting can be tricky, so you do have to edit afterwards.

"I work in Shrewsbury at Tanners, so I normally take lots of photos of wine bottles, but they can get a bit boring."

Jon Petford, from Dawley Bank in Telford, also captured a treasured moment when he caught a young family walking through Attingham Park.

The picture has been made sepia, which gives the picture a truly autumnal feature. Mr Petford calls the snap 'A walk in the woods'.

One photo shows off some of the natural beauty created by H Jones from Shrewsbury, who was able to capture 'Sunrays through colourful trees' while on a three-mile walk at Attingham Park.

The picture is striking with sunlight pouring through the trees at the estate.

John Hughes, spokesman for Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said: "This year is one of the best displays of autumn colour for several years. This is thanks to the warm sunny days and cold nights we've had in October.

"This also means there are great opportunities to spot wildlife. Colourful fungi are everywhere. Salmon will be leaping up the weirs in Shrewsbury and Ludlow, watch out for otters there too.

"Over the next few weeks we should expect an influx of birds taking advantage of our comparatively mild winter.

"Fieldfares and waxwings will strip the trees of berries. Flocks of lapwing will congregate on wet fields and enormous 'murmurations' of starlings often appear in north Shropshire.

"It's a wonderful time of year to get out and enjoy the countryside."

Over autumn Shropshire Wildlife Trust has a packed programme, which will start on Saturday with the Pumpkin Fest at The Cut Visitor Centre in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.

The fest will start at 10.30am and run until 12.30pm and entry is free.

There will also be a series of tacks and trails, which are suitable for children aged four to 11.

The first will take place on October 27 at The Boathouse in Ellesmere.

This will be followed by the next one at The Cut in Shrewsbury on October 29, then by the event at The Oak Tree Centre in Lightmoor, Telford, on October 30.