THE summer season has brought back lung bursting action and festival spirit once more to Liverpool.

The annual Africa Oyé festival once again had to contend with gloomy weather.

Photographers at the free festival, held at Sefton Park, had their work cut out getting well-lit shots and Mark Lea’s action shot of Senegalese musician Daby Toure stands out.

He said: “People mentioned how good he was but they underplayed it.

“I wasn't gonna go this year, I had too much to do, but after a couple of days of computer hell I'd had enough – it was time to party.”

As with many of the top shots added to the Liverpool Daily Post’s ever-growing gallery, fellow users have added their own comments and praise.

Mobilevirgin, a regular contributor, said: “Awesome band. This shot really does the group justice – just shows how much they enjoyed playing in Liverpool.”

A world away from the laid- back scenes, Liverpool city centre has played host to some of the world’s most driven men and women competing in the water, on bike and on foot.

Photographers zeroed in on blurred bikes and the surreal sight of massed swimmers in the Mersey.

But Stephen McNally, who contributes as Chasmcn, distilled the drama down to one swimmer.

The water has taken on the quality of blown glass, thanks to the use of HDR imaging techniques.

Perch Rock Lighthouse, at New Brighton, has long attracted the lenses.

New Flickr contributor Chesterclose2 headed down to the beach early on a hot morning last week to land this shot.

Fellow Flickr user Eddie Evans, who specialises in stunning zoo portraits, was smitten.

He said: “The white of the lighthouse against the blue sky makes the shot.

“I like the way the foreground interests the viewer initially, then drifts towards the lighthouse.”

But he added one little tip, suggesting she clone out the sensor dust-spots from the blue sky, to “make a great photo even better.”