CREATIVE youngsters from all over the Midlands took part in the annual poetry competition at Lyndon School Humanities College.

The contest attracted more than 500 entries from eight different schools.

One of the judges, Stacey Barnfield, executive editor on the Birmingham Mail, said: “It’s great to see the standard of poetry improving year on year.”

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AN ANNUAL poetry competition for Midland schoolchildren returned for its biggest and best year yet.

Organised by Lyndon School Humanities College, the contest, with a theme of Horizons, attracted more than 500 entries from eight different schools.

The poems were then whittled down to a shortlist of 70 in three different categories, Years Two to Four, Five to Seven and Eight to 11 with prizes for coming first, second and third awarded in each category.

Rowena Bailey, Lyndon’s community coordinator, organised the competition.

She said: “Lyndon School Humanities College is proud and delighted to be able to run this competition again, and having received over five hundred entries this year, it seems to be growing.”

A packed audience heard the final 70 read aloud by the entrants last week before the judges, including Solihull Mayor Coun Ian Courts and Birmingham Mail executive editor Stacey Barnfield. Then the winners were announced.

Coun Courts praised the competition saying poetry had a real meaning and significance in the world: “Some of the first records we have of human civilisation come from poetry. For thousands of years poetry has had a place in human history.

“It’s really wonderful to be here in this melting pot of talent.

“We’ve heard some wonderful words tonight and heard some wonderful poetry. It’s great to see poetry given some emphasis and importance in life today.”

Stacey Barnfield said he was pleased the paper could support the competition for the third year in a row.

“It’s great to see the standard of poetry improving year on year, it was a tough task to pick the eventual winners.

“The Birmingham Mail was proud to be able to support the competition again this year.”

Zoe King, aged 12, from Lyndon School Humanities College, came third in the Years Five to Seven Category. She said: “I like seeing everyone else’s poems. I think they we all great.

“I never usually win anything, I really wasn’t expecting it.”

Thomas Macey, aged 12, from Langley Secondary School, came second in the Years Five to Seven Category.

He said: “ I loved the competition, especially standing up and performing but it was difficult.”

The winners from each category were;

Years Two to Four: Daniel Scott, Year Four, Chapel Fields Junior School.

Years Five to Seven: Brandon Bradley, Year Six, Ulverley School

Years Eight to 11: Charley Kerry, Year Eight, Lyndon School Humanities College.