POIGNANT prose by two students have been published in a special poetry anthology to mark the Armistice centenary.

Year Eight students at Harwich and Dovercourt High School, Ben Farnsworth and Elliot Halls, made it to the finals of the Armistice 100 poetry competition.

Their original poems were judged alongside international entries by 11 to 18-year-olds in the competition run by the University of Lincoln with the support of the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

Assistant headteacher Ray Gallagher said: “This is an amazing achievement and we are extremely proud of Ben and Elliot.

“The poetry competition was open to young people aged 11 to 18 years who were asked to compose original poems on the theme of armistice.

“Ben and Elliott’s poems were chosen from a large number of international entries and the two students were shortlisted as finalists and invited to the awards ceremony in Lincoln on November 15.

“As finalists, their poems have been published in a special centenary poetry anthology.

“Ben and Elliot unfortunately did not win the overall prize, however they are definitely winners already for showing creativity, originality, sophisticated writing skills and empathy for our war heroes.”

Ben’s five-line poem Pause focused on remembering, while Elliot’s I Am War was written from the perspective of war.