A poem bemoaning the trials of being hungover at an Alexandria vaccination centre has won a national award.
Poet Stephen Watt penned his masterpiece 'Hungover at the Vaccination Drop-in Centre' after a night out inspired him to write about the experience.
He has now won the Liverpool Poetry Prize open competition and will travel to the city on June 24 to receive his award.
Stephen, the poet-in-residence at Dumbarton Football Club, said: "I had just finished my last job and I had the Christmas night out with them, and the next day I had my booster.
"I had already been out the night before, and then I had to go out to Alexandria.
"I had a look around at the characters and the noises. It was the kind of mix of cure and hangover together. I took notes on what I had seen, and obviously, that prevailed to be the winner."
Liverpudlian poet Roger McGough judged the competition alongside Adrian Henri and Brian Patten and praised the efforts of all the submissions.
He said: “I wish to thank all the poets who took part, and say how much I enjoyed reading the submissions.
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“There was humour, as I would expect, but moreover, many poems that really touched the heart.”
Stephen, who is also a spoken word artist, is a huge fan of McGough and said he was "thrilled" to receive the prize from "the godfather of poetry".
He said: “I am absolutely thrilled. It was a big draw for me to enter the competition because of who the judge was. Roger McGough is someone I have been familiar with for over 20 years.
“Liverpool has a great reputation for poetry, and for one of these guys to recognise me is huge for me.
“Roger McGough is known as the godfather of poetry.
“He’s a Liverpudlian poet, and he has a wicked sense of humour. He has said that they did receive a lot of humorous efforts.
“I think the temporary angle of the vaccinations, which were at the forefront of people’s minds with the pandemic, swung it for me.
“He would have taken it in tongue and cheek when I was referring to a ghetto blaster, seagulls giving the vickies because they were going through the bird flu.
“There were silly things which would appeal to him. But I do think if you’re able to weave these things together into a half-decent piece, then usually it stands out, and this time it has.”
