Queen supports initiative to "breed poets"

Hundreds of young bards were hosted by the Queen in the culmination of of an initiative to "breed poet laureates of the future".

Teenagers from state schools across London attended a reception at Buckingham Palace after penning poems inspired by items from the Royal Collection.

Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, who has been involved in the project, read a poem by 14-year-old Zainab Ahmed, from Sarah Bonnell School, Newham, entitled A Twist In Time.

The Queen presented Zainab with a book - Here To Eternity: An Anthology Of Poetry Selected By Andrew Motion.

The teenager wrote her verse after studying a 19th century gilt-bronze and red marble mantel clock with Apollo driving his chariot through the clouds, from the Royal Collection.

She said she was shocked to win the prize and said she had been inspired by the idea of Apollo's relationship with time.

"This will motivate me to write more poems," said Zainab, who had asked Motion to read out her piece in an "angry voice".