THE county's youngest Poet Laureate has been announced as a 13-year-old girl from Wythall.

Woodrush High School student Rachel Evans has taken the title from last year's winner, Oakley Flanagan, from Hanbury.

Rachel's poems 'NATO' and 'Prisoner: DF8421' were voted the favourites among dozens of entries by a judging panel, which included Oakley, the current Birmingham Poet Laureate Matt Windle, and Gail O'Malley, from the county council.

Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate for 2018 Rachel said: "The final was unbelievable.

"I met so many different people whose poems were about such different things that I didn't want to leave by the end of it.

"I heard my name and I was speechless. I am the youngest ever Poet Laureate and that smashed my doubts completely.

"I am so excited to be added to a list of such successful and passionate young poets and hope that I am, someday, as successful as they have been".

During the course of the next year, Rachel will write and perform five commissions to a variety of audiences, and be an advocate for poetry for young people.

This year's competition required youngsters to submit two poems, one on the subject of 'freedom', and another on a topic of their choice.

Runners up included Sophie Green, aged 17, from Redditch, and Dani Ncube, aged 15, from Bromsgrove.

Catherine Driscoll, director of children, families and communities at Worcestershire County Council, presented Rachel with the winning trophy.

She said: "It was a real honour to be part of the selection of the Young Poet Laureate for Worcestershire 2018, and to see firsthand the incredible talent and passion for poetry that the county's young people have.

"Well done to all involved."