IT is one of our most needed resources for life but it can also be the most destructive.

Water affects us for recreation, drinking or even in the form of the weather as East Lancashire was hit with floods last year.

But it too has a beautiful side as in our area we have some wonderful rivers, waterfalls, reservoirs lodges and canals.

On social media we have been asking our amateur photographers to send in their favourite shots of water in the area.

Here are just a selection and there will be more features in an online photo gallery on our website.

If you want your picture to be featured then email it to robert.kelly@nqnw.co.uk with details of where the photographs were taken.