THE innocence of childhood is just one of a wealth of topics touched upon by a Rubery poet whose work has been published in a new anthology.

Angela Hopkins, of Lyonels Road, was thrilled to find out she was one of ten writers whose work had been selected to appear in Captured in the Mind by Spotlight Poets.

The 55-year-old has been writing poetry since she was forced to give up her job as a nurse through ill health in 1995.

However, it was not until she was at a family reunion in 1999, that her brother asked her what she was doing with all her poems.

"I just said I was writing them and then throwing them in the corner," said the mother of three and grandmother of three.

He encouraged her to send the poems, which also touch on motherhood, religion and current affairs, to a publisher. Angela sent them to Anchor Books and has seen a number of them in print.

"I have not always written poetry but I have enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember," she said.

At the end of last year the publishers invited Angela to submit 20 poems and a profile for consideration for a new anthology. Recently she received the good news that her work had been accepted for the book.

She will also be in contention for a cash prize of £3,000 if she is named poet of the year this October.

Captured in the Mind, which is edited by Sarah Marshall, also contains a profile of all the writers it features.

The book is available, priced £6.95, from www.forwardpress.co.uk or call 01733 898105.