HE'S never even listened to an episode of The Archers but award-winning photographer Ross Hoddinott's image of Colmer's Hill is gracing the BBC radio show's 2017 calendar.

In fact he has two images on the calendar - the other is a cornfield.

It was eagle-eyed Bridport author Maria Donovan who spotted the iconic hill when she went to buy the calendar in Frosts.

Maria said: "In Frosts the other day I picked up the Archers Calendar. There’s one famous landmark in Ambridge it’s Lakey Hill.

"It gave me start to recognise that the photo they have chosen, presumably to represent this iconic feature of a fictional village, is a misty photo of our own Colmer’s Hill. I was so excited.

"I found the image and the photographer online.

"He wasn’t aware that Colmer’s Hill featured in the calendar but was pleased to know about it.

"The calendar is already sold out online, but I think there’s still a copy in Frosts."

Ross, who will be in West Bay on Friday taking more photos, said he was delighted to have two images in the calendar but isn't really an Archers fan.

He said: "Colmers Hill is a very popular location for photographers and I drive past quite regularly. It was actually taken a few years ago. I was due to come to Dorset to do some photography - my business partner is in Swanage and we regularly run workshops in Dorset, "It was soon after my youngest child had been born and he was sleeping so badly I was up early and I thought I might as well go and do a dawn shoot at Colmers Hill. The forecast looked really good and it was going to be really misty which is the ideal conditions for a location like that.

"He gave me that motivation to get up and go.

"This image has been quite well used and was placed in the International Garden Photographer of the Year."

Ross's images are sold through an agent which is why he had no idea his image had become a part of the Ambridge myth.

"It was only when this lady (Maria) contacted me that I knew about it's always a nice surprise when it is a high profile thing.

"I am not a fan although it is an iconic thing and I am well aware of The Archers I don't think I have ever listened to an episode in my life."

Ross, who lives in Cornwall is drawn back to the area because of its beauty, he said.

"Places like Burton Bradstock and West Bay are great areas to photograph it is an area which draws you back again and again."

In 1990, Ross won BBC Countryfile’s junior flora and fauna category in its annual photo competition. By the time he won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition a few years later, he had already decided to pursue a career in photography.

Now aged 38 he has enjoyed multiple successes in the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year and in 2008 was on the judging panel. In 2009 Ross won the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition