If you're an aspiring poet you could win yourself £1,000 in a free poetry competition.

Open to everyone, young or old, all entrants need to do is write a poem about their town and send it to 'Local Poem'.

The best piece will win £1,000 cash and three entries can be made - each no more than 25 lines and 160 words each.

A spokesperson for the competition said: "It can even be about something or someone from the poet’s home area.

“We find that poems written from personal observation and experience are the most heartfelt and expressive, so we’re expecting some great entries.

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

“Last year’s winner was Mary Scott from Darwen in Lancashire. Maybe this year the £1,000 will go to a poet from Tunbridge Wells or a neighbouring town.

"Winning poems have been about a river, a tower, a local character, village life and local history.”

Post your entries to United Press Ltd, Admail 2735, London, EC1B 1JB or e-mail info@unitedpress.co.uk before December 31.