AN exciting year is in store for the newly crowned Worcestershire Poet Laureate, Charley Barnes.

Miss Barnes from Worcester is a writer and lecturer who splits her time lecturing at Newman University, Birmingham, and the University of Worcester.

Miss Barnes, who submitted her work for a competition along with dozens of other poets hoping to win the prestigious position said: “Being announced as Worcestershire Poet Laureate for 2019-20 means the world to me.

"Not only is it a real honour, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to encourage poetry and literature throughout the county, which is something I’m very much looking forward to doing over the next 12 months.

"I’ll be looking to work with schools and universities alike to see what exciting projects we can conjure up, so here’s hoping for an innovative and creative year ahead.”

The Poet Laureate acts as an ambassador for poetry for in Worcestershire and promotes poetry as an art form and form of writing.

 Miss Barnes will now be asked to write poems throughout the year for a number of occasions, which she will arrange with the Worcestershire Litfest and Fringe “Litfest” committee.

She will also make personal appearances as at key events throughout the county during her year of tenure as the Worcestershire Poet Laureate and will perform live at events.

She will write a regular blog to appear on the Litfest website among other important duties.

Her collection of poems A Z-hearted Guide to Heartache, was published by V. Press in July 2018.

Her novel Intention, was published by Bloodhound Books in January 2019 and she has another novel coming out soon.