WE are appealing to all secondary schools in the region to ask their pupils to write a poem to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War for The Northen Echo Schools' Poetry Competition.

The war inspired some of the greatest poems in the English language and now it is the current generation's turn to put their thoughts and feelings in words.

The competition will be judged by a panel of experts, and the winner will receive the latest iPad. The top ten poems will be included in a special edition of The Northern Echo which is to be published on Remembrance Sunday – November 9.

Already several schools have told us that they are keen to enter the competition, and they are weaving the writing into their English and History curriculums.

For more details on the competition and how to enter, visit our centenary website - thenortheastatwar.co.uk