Ledbury Poetry Competition has announced the winners of its 2020 Poetry Competition, which was judged by the well-known poet, Liz Berry.

First prize went to Kim Moore from Cumbria for her poem “All Night A Bird”. Judge Liz Berry said “this poem had my heart in my throat”, calling the poem “beautifully haunting, deeply unsettling”.

The winner gets £1000 alongside a residential course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre and an invitation to read at the competition winners’ event in the 2021 Festival.

Second Prize goes to Kizziah Burton, from Texas USA, with her poem “Cist”, and Third Prize to UK poet Felicity Sheehy with “The Shapeshifter’s Wife”. Kizziah and Felicity win £500 and £250 respectively, and are also invited to read at the winners’ event in 2021.

Ledbury also has categories for young people and children.

First Prize went to Sarah Mohammed/ Second prize went to Irma Kiss Barath; Third prize went to Jessica Yu. All three poets are from North America: Sarah is from the US, and Irma and Jessica are from Canada.

In the children's category, first Prize went to Josephine (Josie) Mahmood; second prize went to Margot Holloway-Smith, and third Prize, to Manya Kumar, all from the UK.