SPT today (Tuesday, 26 January) launched its second Bang on Bard! poetry competition for Glasgow children and young people.

To celebrate this exciting literary event competition judge and SPT Poet-in-Residence John Rice was joined by pupils from Hyndland primary school (pictured below) for some fun verse.

John Rice has been working with Glasgow school pupils on a range of poetry, drama, storytelling and creative writing projects since the residency first began in August 2008.

Hyndland primary is among the schools John has so far visited during his second residency with SPT, and pupils were delighted to get behind today's competition launch.

The group of youngsters read some of their own poems to mark the occasion. There was also a special tribute to Robert Burns in the form of local poet Stewart Ennis, who donned period dress.

John Rice, who wrote a special poem to launch the city-wide contest, said: "Yesterday people around the world celebrated the birth of Scotland's national bard Robert Burns. We hope with today's launch of Bang on Bard! to uncover some stars of tomorrow and ensure Scotland's great literary tradition continues.

"Last year's competition was a huge success with hundreds of excellent entries received. We want to build on this and make Bang on Bard! even bigger for 2010."

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There will be a new prize of £100 book tokens this year, for the school which submits the most consistently-high standard of work. The competition has also expanded to include college students aged 19 years and under.

In addition there will be the usual first, second and third prizes (£50, £25 and £15 book tokens respectively) for age ranges 5-8, 9-12, 13-15 and 16-19 years.

All entrants have to do is write a poem of no more than 25 lines on a subject of their choice. This may be in a recognisable pattern, or free verse style; it may or may not rhyme; can be written in English or Scots; and entries may be illustrated.

Once completed, entrants should write their name, age and school/college address on the back, and send their poem to:

Bang on Bard! Poetry Competition
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Consort House
12 West George Street
Glasgow
G2 1HN

NEW CLOSING DATE: Monday, 8 March 2010.