A LIBRARY-led competition has celebrated talented youngsters with a passion for poetry.

Crown Street Library honoured National Poetry Day with its contest to encourage children to pen a poem about reading.

The winners collected their prizes in the children’s library after reading their poems aloud in front of their proud parents.

Seven-year-old Amelia Brown scooped first place while Ceri Brown, eight, earned second place with their poems urging others to pick up a book an enjoy a good read.

But competition organisers are still trying to trace a mystery Bard, 11-year-old Bharjeet, who left no other contact details on their entry.

Joanne Clement, a poet and PhD student at Newcastle University, was the overall judge for the contest.

She said: “The poems proved that young people in Darlington have a real passion for reading and writing.

“They also clearly conveyed how important Crown Street is to them – a place they feel real ownership of, where creativity can run wild.

“It was fantastic to hear Amelia and Ceri read their poems at the prize giving.

“We see libraries as a quiet, studious spaces, but I believe literature is made to be heard, to be performed, and it was a joy to hear the poems read aloud.”

Cassie Cooper, a Crown Street Library officer and competition organiser, said: “I just love the children’s work – we’ve had a display of the entries in the junior library and it’s been great to be a part of it.

“The competition was put together to celebrate National Poetry Day and it’s been clear that the children liked getting involved too.”

If you can help trace the mystery third-place prize winner, contact Crown Street Library on 01325-462034 or call The Northern Echo on 01325-505073.