Train operator Lumo is running a Christmas poetry competition for children in Newcastle and Gateshead, with the winning poem being read out to passengers travelling on its services on Friday, 22nd December.

The competition is in celebration of Newcastle, Lumo’s home city, and entries should capture what is magical about ‘Christmas in the Toon’. These could be festive family moments, singing Christmas carols, or twinkling lights across the city, but the poems should tell the Toon’s tales of Christmas.

The winner will receive free travel for themselves and their family to any location across Lumo’s route between Edinburgh and London. Entries submissions to be limited to a maximum of 100 words using any poetry style. They should be submitted by the children, or their parents or guardians, by Wednesday, 13th December , and sent to [email protected]. Lumo will announce the winning poem and display the it on Lumo’s social media channels on Monday, 18th December.

The lucky winner will be asked to provide a voice recording of their poem by Wednesday, 20th December in time for it to be played on its services in December.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo said: “This is an exciting opportunity for local children to celebrate their creativity and all that’s great about our home city. We can’t wait to read the entries and know that the winning poem will bring a smile to those travelling to and from Newcastle and beyond on our trains in the lead up to Christmas. This competition is our way of shining a spotlight on the festivities in our hometown at this important time of year and sharing it with the many people traveling on our trains.”