A ‘UNIQUE’ natural spectacle has been captured in a stunning photograph.

Pete Scott snapped the iconic ‘through the keyhole’ sunrise at Durdle Door yesterday morning thanks to patience, some careful planning and a little luck with the weather.

The sunrise through the famous arch can only be seen at this time of year.

Pete, who is originally from Manchester but now lives in Dorset, said that for most of the year, the sun rises at the wrong angle, so can’t be seen through the arch.

He added: “There are a few weeks at this time of year when the sunrise comes at an angle closer to south or south east. I planned it all out and got down there at 6am. I have an app on my phone which tells you when the sun is going to rise so I plotted the photograph, got everything set up and just waited.”

He took the shot at around 7.45am.

The photograph has been a year in the making, as Pete, who works as a builder, had hoped to capture it last year. But on the days he was free to go it was too cloudy to get the perfect shot.

He said he is ‘very pleased’ with his efforts.

A spokesman for the Lulworth Estate said: “One can only marvel at this ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment, when the rising sun glows through the rock of Durdle Door to bring light to the new day - and has done so at the same time, each year for millennia. This is a unique shot which would have taken real commitment – and some very decent thermal clothing!

“If you’re looking to catch this view, visitors should be aware that the Durdle Door Car Park does not open until later in the day. Instead visitors would need to park at Lulworth Cove and walk up and over the hill (carefully, with the right shoes/clothing and torches!).”

Pete said his interest in astro physics and cosmology led him into photography, and he now shares his photos on Facebook at Naturehawk Photography and on Twitter @NaturehawkPhoto

For anyone hoping to capture the elusive sunrise ‘through the keyhole’ he recommends people plan and prepare beforehand.

“Arm yourself with knowledge. It’s a no brainer – if you are after a specific shot you need to know what time, and where to go and what the weather is going to be like. It’s all about research.”

Do you have a stunning photograph of Dorset you’d like to share? Email it to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or tweet us @Dorsetecho