A DEVOTED mum and prize-winning poet has described how the life changing experience of parenthood has inspired her latest collection.

After first becoming pregnant in 2002, Sarah Leavesley, of Westacre, Droitwich Spa, now has two sons - Jamie, aged two, and four-month-old Daniel.

The poet, who writes under the pen name Sarah James, said her two children have been the inspiration for many of the 33 poems in Conception, which features poems on parenthood from conception and pregnancy through the first years of life.

The caring parent and former journalist will now use the collection as a tribute to her children after deciding to opt for a special thanksgiving service instead of a traditional christening.

She wants to give a copy of the collection to guests as a way to remember the service, which is being held at St Nicholas Church, Droitwich, on October 30.

As well as Conception, Sarah - who scooped Burton Ottaker's adult poetry competition in October 1999 - is also celebrating her inclusion in a new short story anthology called The Remarkable Everyday. Her story, which is called Monday, was one of eight selected by Legend Press from hundreds of submissions from across the UK and overseas.

"Parenthood has been a wonderfully life-changing experience for me and I really enjoyed writing most of the poems in Conception," she said.

"I thought this would be a unique and memorable way to mark my boys' thanksgiving service. The poems range from light-hearted to intense, emotional and reflective.

"They are mostly celebratory, though some do cover more negative aspects of parenthood. I hope they will be enjoyed by everyone from poetry-lovers to parents and parents-to-be."

Conception is priced at £3.99, plus £1.25 postage and packing, and can be ordered by calling 07947583102.