A COMPETITION that encourages young people in Tenbury to try their hand at poetry is in its third year.

Last year there were more than 300 entries from schools around the town.

The schools involved this year are: Tenbury Primary, Tenbury High School, Burford Primary, Bayton Primary, Lindridge Primary School, Kimbolton Primary and Clee Hill.

Poems are judged in two categories 7-11 and 11-16 and the prizes for each category are £75 to the winner, £50 to the runner up, £25 for third prize. Then there are 10 runners up prizes of book tokens.

The competition organiser is local poet Tina Cole who believes that poetry can too often be a neglected form of writing that can provide people with an opportunity to express themselves in ways that are not available through traditional prose and essay writing.

For some young people the competition brings young people who have not been exposed to poetry, apart from perhaps the world war one poets, an opportunity to explore and enjoy the art.

An award winner’s ceremony will be held in the Regal Cinema on September 12.

Last year nearly 100 people were at the prize giving.

“We would really like to have more entries than last year so please encourage everyone to have a go,” said Ms Cole.

The 50 best poems are then made into a poetry collection - one for the primary schools and one for Tenbury High which are available on Amazon usually in November. So, the young people will see their work published and in time for Christmas making for a potential present.

Closing date for the competition is Friday, June 28.

More information is available by visiting yppc2019.org or www.facebook.com/yppc2019/or email poet@yppc2019.org