This weekend is the last chance for poets and writers to get their entries in for the international competitions organised by Wells Festival of Literature.

Closing date is midnight on Sunday 30 June – and while that may seem like a close call, last year some 250 entries poured in on the last day.

So far the number of entries stands at over 600 from across the world for the four categories of competitions offering prizes of up to £1000.

The Open Poetry section is to be judged by award-winning Trinidad-born poet and musician Anthony Joseph who was a big hit at last year's festival.

Another category offers a special prize for the best local writer as well as an overall winner.

This is the 2024 Book for Children competition which will be judged by Alex Campbell who writes under the name Alex Cotter. Her recent novel The House on the Edge was selected as a WH Smith travel book of the month.

The Short Story competition will be judged by Susmita Bhattacharya, another award winner whose collection of stories has been serialised on BBC Radio.

And for youngsters there is a special category. Poets aged between 16 and 22 can enter the Young Poets section with a top prize of £200 which will be judged by poet and academic Clare Shaw.

Prize giving and poetry readings take place in Cedars Hall, Wells on Friday 25 October starting at 10am as part of the festival.

For full details of how to enter visit www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk, select the category you want and follow the instructions. Each entry for the adult sections costs £6 and just £3 a poem for Young Poets.

Wells Festival of Literature 2024 runs from 18-26 October.