"I READ the news today, oh boy - four thousand holes in Blackburn Lancashire!"

Well we certainly inspired the Beatles to wax lyrical, but will our news persuade all you budding young poets to put pen to paper?

That is our latest challenge issued to youngsters, linked to this month's National Year of Reading theme of "Songs and Lyrics." We are not asking you to write a song, but a poem with the title "In The News."

Your poem can be written in any style and on any subject linked with news.

It could be on general items of current interest, inspired by one particular report you may have read in our newspaper or something you feel particularly strongly about.

You may even be inspired by the subject of journalism, technology, printing, broadcasting, or different types of readers.

It may be either sad, funny or satirical - you choose your type and topic.

Prizes on offer for this competition include books from Dorling Kindersley and the chance to see your own poem published in our newspaper.

To enter our competition you must be between the ages of eight and 16 and attending school in East Lancashire.

Your entry must be your own original work and signed by a teacher or parent verifying this.

Entries should be neatly hand written or typed and must reach us by the closing date of Monday May 31 1999.

Don't forget to include your name, age, home address, telephone number and school.

And send your entry to NIE Poetry Competition, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn BB1 1HT. Our usual competition rules apply.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.