The Nene Valley near Thrapston, Northamptonshire

In Northamptonshire the valley of the River Nene has been extensively used for the extraction of gravel, resulting in a number of lakes being formed alongside the various branches of the river. Several of these lakes have been converted into country parks while others are used by anglers. This picture was taken on a freezing cold late December morning just outside Thrapston, in the north-east of the county.