THE THOMAS Hardy Conference kicked off with an evening of poetry and readings to celebrate the literary talent in Dorchester.

More than 150 delegates from all over the world gathered at the Thomas Hardye School for a buffet dinner and an evening of special readings.

The 18th annual conference is offering a week-long programme of events including lectures, tours, drama and music.

Secretary of the Hardy Society Mike Nixon said: "The evening was the perfect start to what promises to be an action-packed week."

Hardy Society chairman Professor Michael Irwin and Councillor John Peake, leader of Dorset County Council officially opened the evening's festivities.

The James Gibson Memorial prize was given out by the Irish poet Bernard O'Donoghue, who had also judged the 240 entries in the society's poetry competition.

Bernard O'Donoghue remarked on how high the standard was this year.

The top prize of £3,000 went to Sheila Smith, second place and £1,000 went to James Simpson and third prize went to Jane Croft with £500 prize money. The competition was introduced to commemorate the late James Gibson, who edited Hardy's Complete Poems and was a founder-member as well as a former chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society.

The entrants had to write a poem of no more than 40 lines that had some connection with Hardy's verse. The winning entry, Burial (Triolets), captured the style and theme of much of Thomas Hardy's own verse and was warmly applauded, together with the other three poems.

Bernard O'Donoghue continued the evening with a reading of five of his own short poems, which drew movingly on personal events and relationships.

Finally, the winner of the Goulds Limerick Competition, Mrs Shearing, ended the evening on a light note with a reading of her poem.

For further information about the conference call 01305 837331/251501.