Pupils at Thomas Alleyne Academy in Stevenage took part in a poetry competition to mark 145 years since the birth of E. M. Forster, who grew up in the area.

The competition was set up by housebuilder Bellway, who named their new development in the town Forster Park in honour of the writer.

E. M. Forster was born on New Year's Day in 1879, and lived in nearby Rooks Nest House as a child - an area which inspired his 1910 novel Howard's End.

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Pupils in Years 7 and 8 were asked to write a 150-word poem about Stevenage. Around 200 pupils took part, and the competition was judged by the English department and the school book club.

The Comet: A CGI rendering of the Forster Park developmentA CGI rendering of the Forster Park development (Image: Bellway)

The winner was Year 8 pupil Alanya Thamoderam for her poem 'A Lovely Walk in the Neighbourhood', which highlights the town's many shops and leisure places, as well as its football club and Nala the cat - who is famed for hanging out at the railway station.

Michael Catlin, English teacher at Thomas Alleyne, said: "It was brilliant to see so many students enthusiastic and proud of their local area during our lessons on Stevenage. It was incredibly hard to choose just one winner!"

A Lovely Walk in the Neighbourhood by Alanya Thamoderam (Year 8)

Take a lovely walk in Stevenage,
A beautiful town, not a village,
A convenient place for all to see,
Come take a walk in Stevenage with me.

Many shops and leisure places,
Look around, you'll see familiar faces,
Old Town, New Town whatever it may be,
Come take a walk in Stevenage with me.

Home of Stevenage football team,
Winning league one is the dream,
Can Steve Evans take us there? Maybe. 
Come take a walk in Stevenage with me. 

There's a new celebrity at the station,
He wonders around that location,
Nala the cat is there for all to see,
Come take a walk in Stevenage with me. 

The heart of a town lies within its people, you'll see,
Come take a walk in Stevenage with me.