Poets have the chance to win a cash prize and see their poems published as part of a competition.

The Waltham Forest Poetry Competition is inviting poets to submit their work on the theme of ‘Where I’m From’ for the chance to win. There is a total of £900 to be won and there are national as well as local and young poet prizes.

Even if your poem doesn’t win, it has a chance of being published in a poetry anthology along with the winners and commended poets - if it mentions any location in Waltham Forest.

The competition judge is Graham Clifford, published poet and head teacher in Waltham Forest. His latest collection is Well, published by Against the Grain.

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is sponsoring the competition.

In 2018, the inaugural competition received over 400 poems from London, the UK, and as far and wide as North America, Dubai and Hong Kong.

The closing date for entries is midnight on Monday, October 7, and the award ceremony, which will be held at One Hoe Street, Walthamstow, is on Thursday, November 14.

People are also encouraged to submit their favourite poems by someone else on the theme of ‘Where I’m From’. Email poetrycompetition@yahoo.com with your choice, and say a bit about yourself and why you chose that poem. Your choice will be published on the competition website.

Details of this year’s competition can be found at bit.ly/wfpoetrycomp