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The category of home was the most popular with pictures ranging from traditional country cottages and pretty gardens to high rise flats and a surprising number of the insides of people's fridges.

The latter subject captured one of the organiser's central aims of showing the changing face of Britain, as tins of Mediterranean olives sat next to cans of British lager and microwave meals.

One of the many surprising things the competition threw up was how modern buildings had replaced more traditional ones like cathedrals and churches as national icons.

The London Eye, an innovative piece of engineering designed like a modern day Ferris wheel that dominates the capital's skyline was the single most photographed image.

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But the subjects were as much about the private as the public and a powerful reflection of multi-ethnic Britain, with photos of men at prayer in a mosque, or of black, white and Asian families relaxing at home or play.

One single photo from the short listed 500 will be chosen next month as the defining image of contemporary Britain and the photographer will receive �10,000.

The images are on display at The Photographer's Gallery London 8 June to 22 July, at Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool from 26 May to 7 July and at the Stills Gallery, Edinburgh from 19 June to 14 July.

Channel Four will broadcast the judges decision from The Photographers' Gallery on Sunday 1 July at 20:00.