TIME?is running out for aspriring poets in East Hampshire to enter a national competition.

And not only will there be a top prize for national entrants in this year’s Winchester Poetry Prize competition, there will also be a prize for the best entry from Hampshire.

The county prize, a classic Bauhaus-design Lamy 2000, will be provided by Winchester stationer Warren &?Son.

The Winchester Poetry Prize, which last year attracted almost 1,500 entries, of which 200 were from Hampshire-based poets, is run in partnership with Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The closing date for entries is July 31 and the winners will be invited to read during the prizegiving at Winchester Poetry Day on October 14.