Top prize for young poets opens for entries

The UK's most valuable prize for young poets is once again open for entries.

The Christopher Tower Poetry Competition 2014 was launched today (3 October) to coincide with National Poetry Day.

Now in its 14th year, the contest is based at Christ Church and is run in affiliation with Tower Poetry.

A top prize of £3,000 is on offer for the winner of the competition, which is open to students aged 16-18 across the UK, with £1,000 and £500 going to the second and third-placed entrants.

Longlisted entrants' poems are published on the Tower Poetry website.

This year’s theme is 'News', and the entries will be judged by poets Olivia McCannon, Kei Miller and Peter McDonald.

Past winners include Caroline Bird, Helen Mort, Richard O'Brien, Charlotte Runcie, Anna Lewis and Annie Katchinska, all of whom have since gained further acclaim in the poetry world.

Last year's top prize went to local schoolgirl Azfa Ali of Oxford Spires Academy.

The closing date for entries is Friday 28 February 2014 and the winners will be announced on Thursday 24 April 2014.