AN “outstanding” poetry reading by a Cradley Heath schoolgirl won her a place in a regional competition final as the youngest competitor.

Year 10 Ormiston Forge Academy pupil Sarah Faulkener, aged 15, was up against mainly sixth formers in the Poetry by Heart contest in Halesowen, reciting Simon Armitage's The Shout and Tichborne's Elegy by Chidiock Tichborne.

Head of English David Jenks said: “Sarah put in a great performance. We are very proud of her."

She qualified by winning the Forge Academy heat with her rendition of The Shout, which the judges described as "the outstanding performance of the day".