MADAM,

A poem about Monmouth or another town in your circulation area could win £1,000 in a free poetry competition.

Entry is completely free and anyone, young or old, can have a go. All you have to do is send a poem about Monmouth or another town in the county by emailing [email protected] or posting it to United Press Ltd, Admail 3735, London, EC1B 1JB under the title ‘Monmouth Poem’.

The best poem will win £1,000 cash and you can send up to three entries, which must be no more than 25 lines and 160 words each.

“It can even be about something or someone from the poet’s home area,” said a United Press spokesman. “We find that poems written from personal observation and experience are the most heartfelt and expressive, so we’re expecting some great entries from your readers.

“The contest is designed to encourage ordinary people to write poetry, to both express themselves and be more creative. 

“Last year’s winner was Poppy Turner from Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire who read her poem out on an episode of the BBC’s Countryfile and previous winners came from Leicester, Surrey, South Yorkshire, Bristol, Oxford, Stafford, Rotherham and Greater Manchester. Maybe this year the £1,000 will go to a poet from Monmouthshire. Winning poems have been about a river, a tower, a local character, village life and local history.”

The closing date for the competition is Thursday 31st December.

(United Press Ltd)