A LAKE District photographer hopes to give the world a "wake-up call" to climate change when his dramatic images go on show next month.

Ashley Cooper, 54, of Ambleside, spent 13 years on seven continents amassing pictures that he describes as 'truly shocking', from the Inuit communities of the Arctic to the coral atoll islands of the Pacific Ocean.

His collection of climate change images is the world's largest, and a selection is to go on show at Grasmere's Heaton Cooper Studio from Thursday, November 17, to mark the start of Kendal Mountain Festival.

The opening of Images from a Warming Planet is also to coincide with the publication of Ashley's book of the same name. Among the book's 500 striking images is that of a dead polar that had walked 500 miles in search of food when there was no sea ice on the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago.

Another, illustrating the way forward, shows the founder of an ashram in India, a large and modern community powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

"I passionately believe that climate change is the biggest threat that humanity has ever faced," said Ashley.

"I have spent the last 13 years travelling to every continent on the planet to document the impacts of climate change and in that time have probably witnessed more of its impacts than anyone else. The book and this exhibition come from the heart. My images are a wake-up call to show how climate change is already impacting all around the world."

A selection of photos will be on display in Grasmere and the book - with foreword by environmentalist Jonathon Porritt - will be on sale.

"I have tried to look at what we can do to mitigate the worst excesses of climate change and prevent it from happening," explained Ashley.

"I truly believe that this exhibition and book will play a real and significant role in alerting people to the dangers posed and motivate action. Some of the images are shocking, but I have always strived to create original, dramatic and stunning images."

He added: "You have to remain optimistic otherwise there’s no point continuing. This is an issue about which every one of us can do something to make a difference. We all have a carbon footprint; we are all responsible."

Studio director Becky Heaton-Cooper said: "We are very proud to be hosting this crucial exhibition in association with the Kendal Mountain Festival. We have long been admirers of Ashley’s work as a photographer, but we are also clearly supporters of his message. Looking at his photos is a rollercoaster experience, and we hope that this can indeed be a life-changing show."

The free exhibition is to run from November 17 to the end of the year, open daily 9am-5.30pm. For more, call 015394-35280.