Two pupils at Oxford High School have won prizes in a national poetry competition - without even realising they were in the running.
Alice Clarke, 13, right, and Amy Ashcroft-Jones, 15, were shocked to learn they had been chosen as runners-up in the Simon Elvin Young National Poet Awards.
Amy and Alice
Their English teacher, Mari Girling, spotted the potential of Amy's poem Elephant and Alice's untitled poem, inspired by an old photograph, and decided to enter them in the contest.
Ms Girling said: "At the high school we put a high value on creative writing and we know that many of the girls enjoy writing poetry and fiction in their own time.
"We're delighted to celebrate Amy and Alice's achievement."
As two of 85 runners-up, Amy and Alice will attend a prizegiving ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on National Poetry Day, October 4. Among their prizes are books and a year's free membership of the Poetry Society, which runs the contest.
In addition to the Simon Elvin Awards, the Poetry Society organises a national poetry competition for adults and runs a Poetry Cafe at Covent Garden, in London.
Picture: Damian Halliwell
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article