DIANE Lee opened a whole new chapter in her life when she entered her poem in a national competition.

Entitled, "Harboured Memories", it has reached the semi-finals of the International Library Poetry Contest due to be judged early next year.

Diane, of Wardley Avenue, Little Hulton, said: "I write poems all the time for people I know - about their families, or things which have happened to them.

"I decided to go in for the contest when I saw it advertised in the TV Times. I certainly did not expect to get this far."

She is competing for a top prize of £1,000.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.