WRITERS are being challenged to win £200 by penning new words to a tune written nearly 100 years ago by celebrated Colne musician Luther Greenwood.

The contest will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the annual Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival of music, speech and drama and dance.

Greenwood, longest-serving conductor of Colne Orpheus Glee Union male choir, wrote the music as a celebration hymn for the visit to Colne by King George V and Queen Mary in 1913.

The music was brought to light again by local history enthusiast and retired carpenter Stanley Nutter, whose grandfather John Nutter wrote the original lyric as Sing for the King' Mr Nutter, 73, of Monmouth Street, Colne, said: "My grandfather wrote poetry and articles and often had them published in the local paper.

"I'm not sure how he knew Luther Greenwood, but they used to work near to each other in Colne. My grandfather was a blacksmith for Crabtree Brothers, at Gin Mill, Lenches, and Luther Greenwood was an employer who had Calder Mill at Waterside."

The festival committee is offering £200 for the best new words and a trophy has been donated by Luther Greenwood's family.

The lyric should consist of two to four verses and a chorus, and be suitable for performance by a soloist or choir.

About a dozen would-be entrants, most of them festival competitors, have already expressed interest.

Entries will be judged by a professional adjudicator and the winner will be performed on December 1 during one of two Diamond Jubilee celebration concerts at the Municipal Hall during the 2007 music festival.

Anyone interested in competing can obtain an entry form and a copy of the music from the festival secretary, Mrs Muriel Waite, 3 Rydal Place, Colne, BB8 7DA, telephone 01282 867909. Closing date for entries is June 30.