POETRY is getting competitive next week as Oxford’s budding lyricists take to the stage to battle it out in verse.

The Port Mahon pub in St Clements is holding an Open Poetry Slam on Friday, giving poets three minutes to perform their best work.

Organiser Steve Larkin said: “Basically, this is like the X-Factor, but better.

“We get random members of the audience to act as judges and mark the work in Olympic-style. Years ago, people may have thought it was boring, but poetry has really undergone a renaissance.”

Winners will go through to an Oxford final in May and national finals later in 2011.

Mr Larkin said: “This could be their first big step into poetry stardom.”