Pembrokeshire's poets and story tellers are being urged to get scribbling for this year's PENfro Book Festival.

Both PENfro's open poetry competition and new memoir competition are open now; the closing date is July 31.

Writers from west Wales excelled in last year's competitions, winning the top prizes in poetry and short story writing against strong competition from all over the UK. Diana Powell, from Mathry was the winner of last year's short story competition .

"We were delighted last year that so many fabulous writers from all over Wales, and some from our own area too, proved themselves so strongly in our competitions. It would be great to see similar achievements this year," said competition organiser and PENfro chair for 2015, Jackie Biggs.

Winner of the poetry competition 2014, Katherine Stansfield, from Aberystwyth, is guest judge of the poetry competition while Cecilia Morreau will judge the memoir.

"I am looking for poems that catch hold of me when I first encounter them, and poems that stay with me after reading," said Katherine.

Cecilia Morreau added:

"When you write your piece make sure we hear you," she said. "Try to look at one or a few events in detail, focus on something that has significance to you. Any topic is fine."

Entry fee is £4 a poem, £5 a memoir. Winners will be announced at PENfro 2015.

For full details see the PENfro website: http://penfrobookfestival.org.uk/8-penfro/56-2015-competitions-intro