Budding Byrons and Wannabee Wordsworths are being urged to summon up the Muse and put quill to parchment for this year’s Waterside Arts Festival Poetry Competition.

Poems can be on any subject up to a maximum of 30 lines and there are prizes in three categories: children up to school year 6; children up to school year 11; and adult.

All poems should be the sender’s own original work and those in the two junior age groups must be accompanied by a signed statement from a parent, guardian or teacher verifying that it is the child’s own unaided work, and should include the child’s date of birth.

Entries should be sent to Arts Festival Poetry Competition, 2 Admirals Way, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6RU, to arrive by Saturday 25th June 2005. Don’t forget to include your name and address.

It is hoped that finalists will be able to read their poem (or have it read) at the Festival’s Poets & Pints night on Tuesday 5th July. Presentation of certificates and prizes will be made during a Poetry Evening at The Grove, Hythe on Wednesday 13th July.