POET Flora Denning takes inspiration for her works from her surroundings - be it the countryside or her beloved dogs. And these works have brought her considerable success in the world of poetry rather late in life. Feature writer KIRSTY RAMSDEN met the Sharpness woman to discuss poetry and what makes her put pen to paper.

GREAT-GRANDMOTHER Flora Denning was in her 60s before she had her first poem published, although she had been writing for decades.

Ten years ago the former dog-breeder and championship show judge saw an appeal in a dog magazine for poems to appear in an anthology Paws For Thought.

She put pen to paper and to her surprise the poem was accepted.

She said: "I had more or less written little bits of poetry for years but never bothered to do anything about it before then."

Since the first poem was published she has gone on to have several more published in anthologies.

Her greatest success came recently when her poem A Secret Place" was selected out of an entry of more than 50,000 for the fifth annual edition of the Top 100 Poets of the Year.

Mrs Denning began writing poems many years ago.

She said: "I used to write a lot of limericks for my children and grandchildren."

She insists she needs to be inspired by a subject and this inspiration can, she claims, come from anything.

The inspiration has even included the generator her Sharpness cottage used for electricity prior to mains power being supplied.

She said: "I can feel quite compelled to write.

"I have been in bed, thought of something for a poem and had to get out of bed to write it down before I forget it."

The great outdoors provides great inspiration for Welsh-born Mrs Denning.

During the Second World War she worked for the Forestry Commission - and a love of the countryside has remained with her throughout her life.

Of course her beloved dogs have provided a further source of inspiration.

Although now no longer breeding, showing or judging, she still has five dogs.

Mrs Denning, who has two children, three grandchildren and a great-grandson, explained her friends and family appeared a little bemused by her recent poetry successes.

She laughed: "A lot of people think you are a little eccentric if you write poetry or if you breed dogs."

Mrs Denning, who will celebrate her 77th birthday in March, is not surprised her poetry accolades have come later in life.

Experience of life has made her a successful poet, she believes.

And writing is a family affair for the Dennings.

Mrs Denning's husband, Sharpness-born Royce, has written a book on the history of Berkeley Vale.

One of Mrs Denning's favourite poets is Sir John Betjeman. However she is far from keen on some other writers.

She said: "I read some and think I could do better than that."

She is now waiting to hear about some poems she has recently sent off for publication.

"I will just carry on writing," she said. "I might try to get all my works together one day and get a book published."