The deadline for entries to be received for the EDP and Briar Chemicals Young Poets of the Year competition has been extended to July 23.
The contest is aimed at pupils aged eight to 11 and this year's theme is Spectacular Space. The final stage judge is TV astronomer and writer Mark Thompson. Young writers are being asked to take their inspiration from outer space and turn their thoughts and ideas into poems.
There are two age categories for the competition, eight and nine-year-olds and 10 and 11-year-olds.
Courtesy of Briar Chemicals, the winner of each age category will receive £100 and each of their schools will receive £500. Briar will also donate £500 to help support Mr Thompson's charity-fundraising 24-hour Space Spectacular shows in October at the Royal Institution in London, in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. There will be additional prizes of copies of Mr Thompson's book, A Down to Earth Guide to the Cosmos, for the winners and runners-up. The winners will also have the opportunity to spend a morning at the EDP.
The poetry competition, now in its 11th year, is open to pupils from schools within the EDP circulation area. All entries should be submitted via the schools which have been sent entry forms.
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