A POEM about a pumpkin has earned a seven-year-old Radlett schoolboy a chance of spending a week on an exotic beach in the Caribbean.

Edward Dutton's rhyme was inspired by a pumpkin his dad carved at Halloween and has reached the final of a national poetry writing competition called Pound a Poem.

The competition, in aid of Cancer Research, was open to children aged between seven and 11.

Entrants had to pay a pound, which went to the charity, and then pen a poem about fruit or vegetables.

Edward's poem, entitled The Pumpkin, was one of 16 selected from more than 20,000 entries from across the country. He now stands a chance of winning a family holiday in Barbados.

Edward said: "I wrote it just after Halloween. I don't normally write poetry, but I am really pleased it has got to the final."

However, Edwards's older sister, Maria, aged ten, said he is a better writer than he makes out.

She said: "He writes really good stories. There were two of them that he wrote in school I really liked and the first was about pirates and it was really good and had a comedy touch to it."

The 16 finalists will be judged by a panel that includes Children's Laureate and author Jacqueline Wilson.

The finalists will also have their poems published in a book.

Edward's mum, Carolyn said: "I'm a GP so it is obviously Cancer Research is a charity that I am interested in and I feel a very strong affiliation to.

"We are very proud of him for getting this far. The holiday would be very exiting too."

Edward's verse also earned his school Manor Lodge a number of new books.

Judith Smart, headteacher of Manor Lodge, added: "We are very proud of him, and we will have to get him to sign a copy of his book for the school."

Here is Edward's winning poem The Pumpkin

I'm an enormous pumpkin,

I grew in Edward's plot.

In the October sunshine,

I glow orange and hot.

I won first prize in Potters Bar,

The biggest veggie there,

I am the proudest pumpkin,

Because of Edward's care.

At Hallowe'en my tummy's scraped,

Eyes, nose and mouth cut neat.

My candle burns so hot inside,

I'm off to trick or treat.

Boo!