ASPIRING poets are invited to put pen to paper on their thoughts about remembrance.

The Durham Cathedral competition, organised to mark National Poetry Day, challenges youngsters to write a poem inspired by the theme ‘The Return’.

The winning poet will get to read their entry aloud at the Cathedral’s Festival of Remembrance concert on Saturday, November 7.

Runners-up and highly commended poems will be included in a booklet available at the concert.

The contest is open to children in key stages two or three at a school in the Durham Diocese.

The closing date for entries is Friday, October 16. For full details, email: education@durhamcathedral.co.uk

Charlotte Rowbotham, the Cathedral’s head of education, said: “The title The Return is a general guide but we’re asking children to think about how they would feel returning from war themselves or to imagine that they are waiting for a relative to return.

“The poems can come to us in any form, from something as small as a tweet or haiku, rhyming couplets, prosaic poetry, whatever the children feel inspired to write.”