A former Eastern Daily Press journalist has won an international poetry prize, and will see his work published in July.

Tim Lenton, a former EDP chief sub-editor, also scooped €1,000 for his poem The Island Grows On Me.

He beat runners-up from the USA and the Czech Republic to win the second Fish International Poetry Prize.

Tim, who is also a former editorial training manager for Archant Norfolk, said: “I was staggered and at the same time extremely honoured to win this prize.

“I’ve always enjoyed writing poetry, but have only done so consistently and with serious intent over the last few years. This will encourage me to keep at it.”

Tim’s winning poem will be published first in the 2007 Fish Anthology in July.

He still writes a fortnightly semi-humorous commentary page for the EDP.