The Herald newspaper has announced that the 2015 James McCash Scots Poetry Competition is now open for entries. The competition, which has been running since 2003, is free to enter and is run jointly by the newspaper and Glasgow University. The general aim of the competition is to encourage the use of writing in the Scots language.

There are two main categories. The first, for adults, has five prizes ranging from a first prize worth 1,000, then second prize of 750, third prize of 500, fourth prize of 300, and fifth prize of 250. Poems may be written on any theme, in any kind of verse, so long as they are a maximum of 30 lines, and must, of course, be in Scots. The Scots may be of a general standard or literary variety, or may be written in a specific dialect. Entries are limited to three poems.

The second category of entry is the junior verse section with two sets of prizes worth 200 and 150 for both primary and secondary schools.

Entries submitted by adults should be printed out on A4 paper with name and contact details written on the back and should be sent by post to Lesley Duncan, c/o The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB to arrive no later than 1^st September 2015.

Entries submitted by junior contestants must be via e-mail to Lesley.duncan@theheraldandtimes.co.uk with name and school included.