A WRITING competition has been launched inspired by a pitman poet.
The first Northern Writes Poetry Competition has been launched by Stanley-based arts group The Forge and the Tommy Armstrong Society.
The celebrated songwriter and poet was a Stanley miner, who wrote powerful verses about the region's strikes and pit disasters as well as everyday local life.
Competition organisers hope that Armstrong’s legacy will inspire a whole new generation of poets to pick up their pens and write.
Entries can be on any subject and any format, but must not exceed 40 lines in length.
There are £100 gift tokens for the winners of each of the three categories: adult, under 16 and under 11.
Winning entries will be published in a Northern Writes anthology.
The competition is free to enter and the deadline for entries is Friday, January 6.
For further details, call 01207 284515 or email enquiries@intheforge.com.
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