POETRY is the spice of life for Fiona Smith who is hoping that jotting down her life experiences in verse will lead to a career in writing.

Fiona, of William Street, Radcliffe, has been writing poetry since she was 11 and has already composed more than 400 poems, the majority inspired by her own experiences, love and alcoholism.

Now the 25-year-old is putting the finishing touches to her autobiography, telling the story behind the poetry and is in the process of sorting out a contract with publishers Whitmore.

She is also hoping to have a book of her poems put into print, too.

She said: "I have had a bit of a traumatic life which has inspired me to write, and once I start, I cannot stop.

"My family and friends think it is fantastic and my boyfriend is very happy. He is one of my inspirations, especially for the love poems, and he was the one to encourage me to write the book and include all the bad stuff I wanted to leave out because, despite all that, it is what made my life what it is today."