Entries are set to close soon for a poetry competition held in memory of a poetry-loving Wirral schoolboy.

The Chris Salmon Poetry Extravaganza takes place annually in memory of the Calday Grange Grammar School student, who tragically died from a rare streptococcal infection in February 2009, aged just 15.

Councillor Chris Meaden, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Every January we near the end of the application period for the competition, and every year we are amazed by the number and standard of applications we receive.

“This year has been no different, and I would urge anyone who is thinking of entering to make sure they get their poem in before the deadline.”

The awards evening is set to take place in March at Bromborough Civic Centre.

Winners from each age category will receive cash prizes, and will be invited to attend a workshop with renowned local poet Curtis Watt.

The overall winner aged 18 or under will become Wirral’s Young Poet Laureate for the following 12 months.

In memory of the schoolboy, the Chris Salmon Foundation was set up in 2009 and has so far raised more than £30,000.

To mark what would have been Chris's 21st birthday in April, the charity is trying to raise as much money as possible to make substantial donations to the Meningitis Trust and UK Sepsis Trust; both conduct research into the condition that affected Christopher.

The theme of this year's poetry competition is “Celebration”. Closing date for applications is January 25.

The competition is open to all primary, secondary and sixth-form students in Wirral, as well as adults.

Entry forms are available from schools and at www.chrissalmon.org.uk.

Completed forms can be emailed to Diane Mitchell at dianemitchell@wirral.gov.uk or handed in to Birkenhead Central Library.

Further details are available here