A NORTH-EAST poet's tribute to a young South African hero is to be published in an anthology of verse.

Jeanette Walker, from Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, wrote a poem for 12-year-old Nkosi Johnson, who contracted HIV from his mother and became a symbol for Aids sufferers in South Africa.

Nkosi died on Friday, but Ms Walker's tribute to him will live on in a new poetry book.

The verse, which is called Nkosi, has been chosen from thousands of entries nationwide to be published in a book, entitled Make A Wish - Moonbeams in a Jar.

Ms Walker, 53, wrote her poem at a creative writing course at the Hemlington Initiative Centre, after seeing a documentary about Nkosi.

She said: "The programme really struck a chord. Nkosi's only wish was to reach his 12th birthday.

"He was an inspiration, and I found myself wanting his wishes to come true.

"My tutor mentioned the Make a Wish project and encouraged everyone to write poems about making wishes.

"I wrote from the heart and never imagined it would ever be published."

Make A Wish - Moonbeams in a Jar will be published at the end of the month.

Ten per cent of the total sales will be donated to the Make A Wish foundation, which aims to grant the wishes of youngsters with life-threatening illnesses.