ENTRIES are now being accepted for Ledbury Poetry Festival’s annual Poetry Competition, which offers a top prize of £1000 and a week’s residential course at Ty Newydd, the National Writers’ Centre of Wales.

“As Europe’s premier poetry festival we are attracting many entrants,” says festival manager Phillippa Slinger, “with an increasing number coming from international countries. There were more than 1500 entries last year, and the winner was US poet Jane Satterfield. Many winners go on to be well known and highly regarded poets, and we have a special event at the Poetry Festival in July where prize winners in all categories can read and practise their performance”

This year's judge is Imtiaz Dharker, a highly respected poet, artist, and documentary film maker who was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2014. “Imtiaz appeared at the festival last year” said Phillippa, “and she was delighted to be asked to judge this year’s competition. She loves Ledbury, and wanted to help us with the competition, knowing how much it can help poets in their careers. Unlike other competitions, where poems go through a sifting process, Imtiaz will read each and every one. There are categories for Adults, Young People, and Children.

For more details, and an on-line entry form, visit poetry-festival.co.uk/ledbury-poetry-competition/

You can also read previous years’ winning poems there. The closing date for entries is Thursday, July 7.