WANNABE wordsmiths have the chance to put pen to paper and impress leading poet George Szirtes in an Ealing poetry contest.

The Ealing Autumn Festival poetry competition is inspired by the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta based on the themes of freedom, human rights and democracy.

Apart from judging the competition Mr Szirtes will also visit Ealing Central Library on October 11 and then later he will talk about the entries and present the prizes at The Drayton Court in West Ealing.

Selected poets will be invited to read – the focus will be on younger poets in the afternoon at Ealing Central Library and on the adult age group in the evening at The Drayton Court.

Mr Szirtes visited the festival last year with Clarissa Upchurch, his wife and his grown-up children, Tom and Helen.

The two categories are the adult group (19 years and over) and 18 years and under with cash prizes for the first three in each section.

You can enter online at www.ealingautumnfestival.co.uk; ask at your library for hard copy entry forms or telephone. 020 8567 7623.

Closing date for entries is September 4.