A CHRISTLETON pub landlord is searching for the best pub poet to represent the area in a competition.

The hunt coincides with a golden ale festival in the Cheshire Cat, Whitchurch Road, and nine other inns around the region until the end of August.

Ron Hartley, landlord of the Cheshire Cat, said: “We have decided to join the other vintage inns in the Cheshire and Staffordshire collection to find the best poet in the region.

“Their verse will be published along with those of the winners from around the country and we’ll be asking customers to vote online.”

The national winner will win a VIP weekend for four people in London.

Poems entered must contain a reference to Cheshire and Staffordshire and one of the six beers included in the real ale festival.

Entries must be sent via email to pubpoet@gmail.com and entrants should put The Cheshire Cat in the subject line and include their name and telephone number.

The deadline is Friday, July 31.