IT was poetry in motion for a seven-year-old boy from Dunfermline whose winning way with words landed his family with a holiday.

Ruari McLoughlin, who attends McLean Primary School, waxed lyrical about Northumberland to win a competition and a prize of a luxury break.

His poem was voted the best in Coastal Retreats 500 Words in the North writing contest for five- to 18-year-olds and captured the heart of writer Judith O’Reilly.

Ruari’s winning entry read: “Northumberland, I squelched in the mud, I slithered in the mud.

“And washed my feet with ice cold water.

“I met a girl who could swim!

“And she could stand in the deep end!

“I went to Beamish and rode the trams and fairground boats.

“I ate marshmallows in the woods until it got dark and Finn got scared and called ‘Mammy! Mammy!’ “We played musical statues and musical bumps and I stopped the music.

“On the last day the sea kissed our feet goodbye.”

The competition was run by Coastal Retreats, a family-run company who let holiday homes in the north-east of England, and judged by Judith, the owner of one of the homes and known for her book Wife in the North and debut novel Killing State.

She said of Ruari’s work: “We loved the whole idea in the poem of the squelching and slithering.

“The ice cold water and the things that stand out to kids like meeting a girl who could swim and stand in the big end.

“Beamish of course isn’t in Northumberland, but the idea of eating marshmallows in the woods and family and fun and kisses very much are.

“Very evocative both of place and emotions associated with holidaying. Congratulations to Ruari and the family.”

Ruari and his family won a short break at Coastal Retreats group getaway for 12, Moo House, where he holidayed last week.

He said: “I can’t believe I won a holiday!

“Moo House was the best house ever, and even had its own games barn!”