THE Pembrokeshire Coast has been shortlisted for an accolade in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018.

Now in their seventh year, the awards are a celebration of the British countryside and its people.

Following suggestions by the public, Countryfile's panel of experts whittled the nominees down to five in each category.

In the shortlists, announced yesterday (Friday), the Pembrokeshire Coast features in the Holiday Destination of the Year 2018 category, which will be decided by a public vote.

Voting opens today and closes on March 5.

To cast your vote for the Pembrokeshire Coast click HERE. 

Said Countryfile: "With inviting beaches and a wild coastline, along with cetacean spotting from Strumble Head, puffins in Skomer and the smallest city in Britain at St Davids, Pembrokeshire has the lot."

Commented judge Miranda Krestovnikoff: "Wildlife, wildlife, wildlife. Plus stunning coastline, incredible birdlife, beautiful beaches that aren't as busy as they are in Cornwall - it's just wall to wall wonder."

Challenging the Pembrokeshire Coast for the award are The Forest of Bowland, in Lancashire and Yorkshire; the Isle of Wight, Suffolk and Scotland's Speyside.

Also nominated in the Country Book of the Year category is The Lost Words by St Davids-based illustrator Jackie Morris and poet Robert Macfarlane.

As the Western Telegraph reported last week, the book, published only last October, has been shortlisted as one of the nation's favourite nature books, with the winner being announced shortly on the BBC's Winter Watch. It was also named the Hay Festival's Book of the Year 2017 and the Books are my Bag, Most Beautiful Book.

To cast your vote for The Lost Words click HERE.