A TEN-year-old budding poet has fought off 2,000 rivals to reach the final of a writing competition.

Matthew Finch, of Bickershaw CE School, is in line for the Top Poet title in a borough competition with a 'Beginnings and Endings' theme.

He was inspired to write the poem when his school visited the local church, St Elizabeth with St James, as part of a Leigh Education Action Zone arts and writing project, when year five and six pupils were encouraged to record their feelings about the visit.

Matthew said: "I like writing stories more than poetry, but this poetry seemed good."

Only 22 entries were selected as finalists, with the writers reading their entries at Aspull Civic Hall last night.

All finalists were to be awarded prizes, with overall winners being selected from the primary and secondary age groups.

The arts and writing project reaches its climax next week, when work by children from seven schools within Leigh EAZ is exhibited in the Derby Room at Leigh Library. In the cold church

The silence is taking its toll

Nobody but me to make a sound

In the silence nobody, nobody at all

I imagine the chatting before the service

Clattering of clogs

Brains pondering

Hearts beating

Silenced by the choir

Walking down the aisle

Just another day in the church

Just another service

The only voice is the voice that echoes

Echoing through the church

The loud cheer like singing

Brightens up their lives

Friendly chatting after the service

People walking home

Silence again in the church

Nobody, nobody at all ARTISTS' IMPRESSION: Bickershaw Church as seen and painted by Y5/6 pupils from the village school, is one of many paintings on show by children The Silent Church By Matthew Finch