Budding writers from Preston Street Primary school in Edinburgh were coached by six Scottish poets, including Aonghas MacNeacail and Dilys Rose, on a special Edinburgh to Glasgow train trip to launch the Golden Jubilee Poetry Competition in Scotland in honour of the Queen's 50th anniversary as sovereign next year.

The writers of the three best entries in three categories - seven to 11 years (P3-P6), 11-14 years (P7-S2) and 14-18 years (S3-S6) - from across the UK will be presented with specially commissioned medals by the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on July 9, 2002, and all the entries will be preserved in the royal archives at Windsor Castle.

The theme is the Queen's golden jubilee and it is expected that the poems, which should be a maximum of 30 lines, will range from being about the Queen to some historical event which characterises her reign. Carol Ann Duffy and Andrew Motion will be among the judges.

The deadline for submissions is March 31. For copies of the competition pack write to The Golden Jubilee Poetry Competition, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA or visit www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk