The McLellan Poetry Prize is awarded by the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust Ltd as part of the annual McLellan Arts Festival.

Now in its seventh year, past judges have included Kathleen Jamie, Jackie Kay, Peter and Ann Sansom and Michael Laskey.

This year’s judge will be Simon Armitage.

Simon Armitage has recently been announced as Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, is Professor of Poetry at University of

Sheffield and a frequent broadcaster and writer for television and radio.

He has published over a dozen poetry collections, his latest being ‘Paper Aeroplane: New and Selected Poems 1989 -2014’.

His best-selling memoir ‘Walking Home’ (2012) described a journey North to South down the Pennine Way as a modern troubadour.

A sequel, ‘Walking Away’ is to be published in June 2015. Simon Armitage was awarded the CBE for services to poetry in 2010.

The 2015 McLellan Poetry competition will close on 30th June.

The competition rules can be found here and the postal entry form can be found here.

Full competition details and how to submit your entries online can be found on www.arrantheatreandarts.org