A PRIZE-WINNING photograph of a snowy River Tyne and Nungate Bridge has been cut into a thousand pieces… for a special jigsaw.

The impressive picture, taken by Linda Clanahan, captured the hearts of Haddington residents.

Community resilience volunteers have set up a lending library, which allows members of the public to borrow jigsaws, books, games and DVDs.

To mark the launch of the lending library, a competition was held to find a suitable picture of the town which could be transformed into a jigsaw.

More than 100 entries were submitted, with members of the resilience team picking out their top 10.

Members of the public then selected Linda’s picture as their favourite, with nearly 300 votes cast.

The Gourlaybank resident, who is yet to complete the jigsaw, was delighted to win.

She said: “I took the photograph such a long time ago.

“It was in 2009 and there were a couple of years around Christmas time when it was really snowy.

“I got quite a lot of good shots over those years and this was just one of my favourite ones.

“The bridge itself is one of the most endearing features about Haddington and if people come to visit the town I take them down to the bridge.

“It is my favourite spot in Haddington – outside the Waterside and sitting there.

“I didn’t know it was going to be so popular!”

Paul Darling, Neil Walker, Julie Cove and Kathryn Winn were named as runners-up and have also had their pictures made into jigsaws, which are available from the lending library.

Pat Lemmon, who has been heavily involved in the community resilience efforts, said the competition had been a great success.

She said: “We have got about 550 followers on Facebook and we have just under 60 people signed up to us for the service.

“At the moment, around 250 items are out on loan.”

The library is well stocked, with just under 500 books, about 100 jigsaws – including the five selected through the competition – about 50 games and “hundreds” of DVDs.

Mrs Lemmon, who is also on the town’s community council, said the donated items went through a sanitising process.

Similarly, the items are delivered by members of the resilience team wearing gloves and can be placed on the person’s doorstep.

The jigsaws have proved very popular and Mrs Lemmon said: “I think it is a way to release boredom and keep minds active.

“It passes the time and gives people something to do other than watching television.

“When you cannot sit out in the garden, you can work away at the jigsaw.

“For people without gardens – and there are many – it is something to keep them occupied.”

Anyone looking to borrow something from the lending library can search for Haddington Lending Library on Facebook or call the Haddington resilience phone number on 07592 003386.