The founder of Wenlock poetry festival, Anna Dreda, has been named as one of three judges for the  Costa poetry award, along with poet and arts journalist Charlotte Runcie, and author and poet Owen Sheers.

Dreda, who over 23 years has built up one of Shropshire's landmark independent bookshops, Wenlock Books at Much Wenlock, said: "I have spent most of my life filling my shop with books that are so good, so tempting, that people can't resist them, and judging the Costa prize is another way of sharing my love and passion for poetry along with everyone who comes through my door."

She founded the Wenlock poetry festival in 2010 with patron and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. "It was Carol Ann's idea to start a festival," she said. "She came to do an event in Wenlock Books back in March 2009, and fell in love with Wenlock all over again, having visited here as a teenager. I said I would start a festival if she'd be our founding patron and she agreed. A few weeks later, she was announced as the new poet laureate, so the festival hit the ground running."

Next year’s sixth Wenlock poetry festival will be from 24-26 April. Anyone wanting more information on the festival, or wishing to get involved, should email info@wenlockpoetryfestival.org.

Background: The spirit of Wenlock