NO one could have asked for more from Swindon's teenagers last Saturday morning at the town's first Youth Poetry Slam.

Ten schools motivated 17 teenage teams to write and perform their own poetry to a packed Arts Centre auditorium.

The whole building brimmed with positive energy. All human life was creatively presented bullying, suicide, families, friendship, fashion, drugs, teachers, elections, war and peace. Seriousness and humour were used, as was a skilful dollop of dramatic devices.

This Swindon Festival of Literature event demonstrated, that with sufficient resources and expertise injected into schools, Swindon teenagers respond fantastically. Here's to next year.

T HILLIER

Old Walcot

Swindon