An Ashby-based university student has taken a spectacular photo of Comet Neowise.

Jake Whitehouse-Muir managed to capture the image in the night sky with Ashby Castle in the foreground.

But the photo was made all the more remarkable by the fact that Jake only took up photography seriously this summer as a hobby during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The image was first featured earlier this week on the New Photos of Ashby de la Zouch Facebook page.

Jake, aged 19, gave us permission to use the photo and told Ashby Nub News how he managed to get the perfect shot.

"I knew I wanted that picture, and I felt the comet on its own perhaps wouldn't have had the same impact," he said.

"But I thought that if I could get Ashby Castle into the shot then it would look good. There was a little bit of luck involved as the skies were clear and perfect.

"I used a tripod and waited by the Castle grounds on Monday night, I knew pretty much what time would be best and that's how it turned out."

Jake, who is studying Psychology at the University of Warwick used a Canon EOS 650D camera for the picture but admitted he had not had it long.

"I've only had the camera for a few months, it's the first really good standard one I've had. I'd been taking photos on my phone before, but nothing like this," he said.

"I was looking for a hobby during the Coronavirus lockdown and decided to take up photography more seriously.

"I'm really pleased with the photo and it was worth all the effort. I used some software called Sequator and then Lightroom to edit afterwards."

Neowise was only discovered by Nasa in March and at its closest it was around 103 million kms away from Earth.

The comet reached its closest approach to us on July 23 but should still be visible for a few days more.