Pupils' poems display the write stuff in competition

BUDDING bards from two East Lothian primary schools will read their work at the county's Saltire 2010 celebrations.

Pupils from Pencaitland and Law primary schools topped a county poetry competition and will enjoy a public reading at St Mary's Church on Sunday.

The theme of the contest, which attracted 91 entries, was My East Lothian, and two winners were selected alongside two highly commended entrants.

Bestselling author Peter Kerr will present certificates and gifts to the competition winners, who are in primaries four to seven.

Environment Minister Fiona Hyslop will open the programme at St Mary's Church in Haddington.

Councillor Peter MacKenzie, education spokesman for the local authority, said: "We had many eloquent poems to consider and this made choosing the winners quite challenging.

"Our young people write very moving verse about the beautiful place in which they live."