By JULIA RAVENSCROFT

AN OXFAM poetry competition based around the theme of 'The Futility of War' has been won by two Warrington schoolgirls.

The winners in the 12-14 and 15-17 categories were Katy Eyres, of Sir Thomas Boteler High School, and Rebecca Williams, of Penketh High School.

Oxfam, which launched a 'Cut Conflict' campaign in May last year, has published the poems in a booklet featuring North West poets.

The work was judged by Warrington-based teacher Barbara Dutton and American born North West poet and playwright Cheryl Martin.

The poems were partly inspired by an exhibition of haunting images from conflict zones across the world taken by photographer Jenny Matthews, which were displayed in the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Young People's Centre.

The book contains the poems together with a selection of the photos that inspired them as well as information about the campaign.

Oxfam is calling for tough new laws on the export of arms from the UK and especially for the closure of loopholes which allow dealers to ship weapons to embargoed or sensitive destinations.

Oxfam is also campaigning for extra regulation on the end-use destination of arms for exports and for controls on licensed production.

Oxfam's Katy McDermott said: "The poems we received clearly showed the concern on the part of the local people about others who live in conflict zones.

"Through its emergency and long-term development work Oxfam is all too aware of the misery caused by the proliferation of weapons, particularly small arms. A reality of war is that UK companies and dealers fuel and also profit from conflict abroad.

"Oxfam are therefore pleased to bring together a collection of poems dealing with the subject of conflict."

The presentation of the prizes, which were donated by Waterstones, were presented at the peace centre.