WIRRAL'S young poets are being invited to write about their heroes and take part in one of the UK's most prestigious cultural and literary events.

A century ago, Birkenhead Park was the setting for the Royal Welsh National Eisteddfod.

The winning poet at the 1917 event was Hedd Wyn, a young man who died at the third Battle of Ypres just weeks before the prize was announced.

The empty winner's chair was draped in black and after the Eisteddfod it was taken back to Hedd Wyn's home in Snowdonia where it remains today.

His story has inspired this year's Black Chair Centenary Poetry Competition as Birkenhead park gets ready to host commemorative celebrations this September.

The poetry competition is open to young people between the ages of 11 and 19.

Robert Lee, chairman of the Friends of Birkenhead Park, said: "When the winner's name was announced at the 1917 Eisteddfod it was an incredibly moving and very sad moment as the audience learned that Hedd Wyn had died.

"We hope his story will inspire young poets to think about 'The Hero' and we look forward to reading the work of a new generation of writers."

Poems on the subject of 'The Hero' must be original and no longer than 50 lines and can be emailed to W.R.Lee@liverpool.ac.uk or sent to the Friends of Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Park Visitors Centre, Park Drive, Birkenhead CH41 8AU, before August 1.

Please include your name, age, home address or school/college address.