LANCASTER poet Kate Horsley has clinched top prize in a poetry competition.

Kate was crowned the winner of the Lancashire prize of the Adoption Matters North West's awards at an event held at Gorton Monastery in Manchester last weekend.

Kate impressed the panel with her touching poem, ‘Rules for looking after Ian’, which interpreted this year’s theme of ‘Belonging’.

Kate said: “I am delighted to have won this prize.

"It is such an honour to have my poem read by so many established poets.”

The awards were hosted by Cheshire poet W. Terry Fox and attended by supporters of the charity, including the Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Harry Lyons, and Lancashire writer Carol Fenlon.

AMNW Chief Executive Norman Goodwin said: “We hoped this competition would encourage more people to think about the issues around adoption and we are delighted with the amazing support we have received for the competition.

“Our thanks to all our sponsors and supporters including Gorton Monastery who provided such a wonderful venue for the event.

"Our special thanks to W. Terry Fox for hosting the event and to the panel of judges who made the difficult decision of choosing the winners.”