大象传媒

I wish you all the best with A POEM FOR MANCHESTER, what an excellent way to encourage local children to write about our great city and what a prize for the winner to have their words become a part of Manchester forever. Mick Hucknall, Simply Red.

Many local celebrities have got behind the competition that's looking for a forty word poem about Manchester to be be engraved into the fabric of the planned Piccadilly Place development.

Manchester poet Lemn Sissay on hand at the launch to offer advice, while comedians Steve Coogan and Dave Spikey offered their support.

Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall send his best wishes.

And within minutes of the launch the first entry arrived from Peter Abarney in Wardle.

The competition runs until 28th May when The Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, will select a short-list of poems from which the public will then be able to vote for the best.