Picture:Poetry winners and runners-up (left to right) Emma McKelvie, Lauren Howarth, Miriam Hart, Kirsten McCroskie, Kayleigh Hill, Kristofer Wright and John Rodie with North Ayr writer in residence Gerry Stewart (extreme left), Post editor Jim Robb (second left) and park director Nat Edwards. Missing form the picture is runner-up Antonia O'Hare.

Ayr's attempt to earn City status may not have succeeded - but a competition run in conjunction with the bid was a major success.

Around 300 writers sent entries for A Poem for Ayr run by the Ayrshire Post and Burns National Heritage Park.

Prizes were offered in three age groups. Primary schoolchildren clearly had great fun putting down in writing their views about the Auld Toon.

And senior students and adults made cogent points about what is wrong and right with Ayr.

The judges - South Ayrshire Provost Liz Foulkes, Burns National Heritage Park director Nat Edwards and Ayrshire Post editor Jim Robb had to deliberate long and hard before selecting these winners:

Under 10's: Kirsten McCroskie, St Johns Primary School, Ayr.
10 to 13 years: Kristofer Wright, St Patrick's Primary School, Troon.
14 and over: John Rodie, Ayr.

They each received a plaque, a certificate and Burns-related prizes. The school pupil's entries were so inventive and impressive. The primary youngsters' work was so impressive it was decided to award runner-up prizes in the youngest age groups. These went to:

Under 10: Miriam Hart, St Johns Primary School, Ayr, Antonio O'Hare, Good Shephard Primary School, Ayr.
10 to 13 years: Emma McKelvie, Heathfield Primary School, Ayr, Kayleigh Hill, Dalmilling Primary School, Ayr, Lauren Howarth, Whitletts Primary School, Ayr.

AYR

Look in the past
And what do you see?
Robert Burns and poetry.
He lived in a cottage,
He worked in the cold,
He died in his 30s
That's what is told.

We live in the present,
We support teams,
Ayr United scuffing,
Other teams!
Craig Brown lives in Ayr,
We live by the sea,
Wait! I forgot who lives here,
ME!

Think of the future,
What could there be?
Flying cars and hovering trees,
Talking posters and moving TVs,
Famous people driving
Double Decker cars,
People walking on the stars.

Kristen McCroskie (9)
P5A St John's Primary

THE CITY OF AYR

Saturday morning
Up tae high doh
Aff tae the pictures
In Ayr we go.

We havnae got the
Pictures in Troon
So we head off
To the market toon.

e havnae a cathedral
Or a university,
We havnae got an icerink
Or ponies by the sea.

Ayr has got the "Honest Men"
And the Scottish Eagles too
Ayr has got the best of shops
For our city it will do!

Kristofer Wright (10)
St Patricks, Troon

STAINS OF A CITY

Two bridges of poetic glow
Spa the streamlets as they flow
Breathtaking tales of long ago,
Of winters, tame and wild
As demands for greatness grow
Bold efforts are defiled.

To have two streams of world renown,
A stature higher than a town
But misdemeanours hold us down
And spoils our case
And visitors disgusted frown
And steps retrace

Traitors dwell within our ranks
And denigrate the Bonnie Banks
And have every effort firing blanks
When every plea is made,
Litter louts on all our flanks
Graffiti's art displayed.

Again the townsfolk raise their sights
And justly claim historic rights
To bless the town with city lights
The honest men's reward
And elevate to regal heights
With bravehearts proud accord.

Around the flame of Wallace Tower
The hero of an ancient hour
Bonnie Scotland's bravest flower
Enduring ages past,
Grant our town a city's power
Restore the greatness lost.

John Rodie, Ayr