Woman who won National Poetry Competition recalls 'blanking out'

Imogen Wade was presented with her award at a ceremony last month

A writer who won one of the world's most prestigious poetry competitions has recalled how she "blanked out" when she was told the news.

Imogen Wade's poem, based on her real-life experience of being abducted in New York, triumphed over 19,000 entries at the National Poetry Competition.

Wade, from Harlow, Essex, said winning was "very surprising".

The poet also joked that the prize of £5,000 meant she had made back her money from being mugged aged 19.

"It's been incredible; I'm really, really, happy about this and it's not at all something I expected," she told BBC Upload with Rob Jelly on Thursday.

"When they called me up, I behaved like a moron, really.

"I said 'Oh my God' about seven times and then after the call I had to email them and say 'Oh sorry, I blanked out on the phone call can you repeat what you said so I can have it in writing?'

"It was really, really embarrassing."

• Listen: Harlow poet inspired by her abduction

Wade was one of 8,841 poets from 110 different countries entering the competition, together submitting 19,000 poems.

The competition, hosted by The Poetry Society, recognises unpublished works.

She said her grandfather and the poem When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats had inspired her as a child, and teachers at school had also influenced her.

When she is not putting pen to paper, Wade works as a therapist.

Imogen Wade was one of 8,841 poets entering the competition

She explained how she was on strong travel sickness medication while studying in New York when "I just find myself" locked in a van under a "dark bridge".

"I'm like 'Oh no, this is the end of my life, it's been a good ride' and then luckily didn't die and lived to write the poem," Wade said.

"I've now made some money from this competition and by a domino effect I am in profit from the mugging, which I enjoy."

• Read: The Time I Was Mugged in New York City