A schoolgirl who won a poetry competition heard her entry performed by a famous actor last week.

Yasmin Hafow, of Croydon Parish Church Junior School, won the under-16s category of the Southwark Cathedral Lancelot Andrewes Award 2012, with her poem Journey Through Fire.

Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy judged the competition and Yasmin’s poem was read out by renowned actor Timothy West.

David Morgan, headteacher at Parish Church, said: "The school is very proud of Yasmin. It was a great achievement not only for her but for the other eight children who also had their shortlisted poems published in the anthology."

Paul Greenhalgh, Croydon’s executive director for children, families and learning, said: “It’s always great news when pupils from Croydon receive recognition for their talents. I’m delighted at Yasmin’s achievement, and it was a great privilege for her to have her poem read by such a respected actor after having had it judged a winner by the poet laureate.”

Other aspiring poets in Croydon are invited to a poetry hour that is being held at the Croydon Central Library on Saturday 1 December from 2-3pm.