IN the UK more than 3.7 million people over the age of 65 are thought to live alone.

And now children from Worcester are being invited to take part in Poetry Together, a new poetry competition designed to help fight loneliness this winter.

The brainchild of poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy - in partnership with the Co-operative and Manchester Children’s Book Festival - the contest challenges children and young people to pair up with a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, carer, sibling or friend to write an original poem.

The aim of the project is to "bring people together creatively" while also raising awareness of the Co-operative’s charity partnership with The British Red Cross to combat loneliness in communities across the UK.

Carol Ann Duffy said: “Poetry Together is a competition with a real difference in the way it emphasises collaboration between generations, and is tied into a wider socially-orientated campaign.

"The spirit underlying the principles that guide Poetry Together is also evident in the fact that the competition is free to enter and resources are available for free on the website to help those who aren’t sure where to start.

"We would love for schoolchildren from Worcester to team up with a poetry partner of a different generation to enter.”

Richard Pennycook, chief executive of The Co-operative Group, added: “This is a wonderful way in which to connect people across different generations."

For more details visit mcbf.org.uk/get-involved/poetry-together