WITH over 200 entries from all over the country, organisers of Settle’s National Poetry Day celebrations have declared their 2016 competitions a great success.

Winners were presented with their prizes at Victoria Hall in a special evening organised by Settle Sessions.

In the North Craven Primary Schools competition, Hannah Chapman from Giggleswick Primary came first, Lauren Taylor from Bentham School was second and Joel Monks from Giggleswick Primary won third prize.

Commended young poets were Maisy Baillie, Harry Armstrong, Tom Birkett-Bentley, Max Clark and Erin Hutt-Holgate, Edie Eccleston and Dylan Lightbody.

Austwick woman Joan Butler's poem ‘Hawk Talk’ was chosen as Craven’s funniest poem in the competition.

The national competition attracted entries from throughout the country.

First prize went to Jenna Plewes from Alvechurch with ‘Driving Home’, second prize went to Jenny Morris from Norwich with ’Box Room’ and Maggie How from Grange-over-Sands took third prize with ’Between Us’.

Also commended in the competition were Tricia Robinson from Settle, Jane Eagland from Lancaster, Joan Butler from Austwick, Kerry Darbishire of Kendal, David Smith from Middlesbrough and Rona Laycock from Avening.

To conclude the evening, Settle Sessions brought together established poets John Killick of Settle and Yorkshire poet Michael McCarthy.

They delivered amusing, touching, deep and accessible work based on their life experiences from Ireland to Settle.