A GRANDMA has beaten hundreds of youngsters in the hunt to find the UK's best text message poet.

And Eileen Bridge, 68, of Moleside Close, Accrington, said she was "totally shocked" to pick up the accolade with her effort "O Heart that Soars".

She entered a competition to find a modern rival for the Poet Laureate, who is officially appointed to the Royal Household.

The entry was written in mobile phone abbreviated "text message language" inspired by her grandchildren's efforts.

Eileen, who has been married to second husband Joe for nine years, said: "I often enter competitions that I see and this one looked like fun because I love writing poetry.

"I'm quite good with technology and I'm always texting my grandchildren. I don't think they are as surprised as me that I've done so well is this competition."

T-Mobile set out to find the UK's top love poem written in text language and attracted hundreds of entries from budding bards across the country.

Eileen won £350 for her second place effort. The winning entry came from Ben Ziman-Bright, 23, from London. He won £1,000.

She said: "My poem was about Joe, we have been married for nine years after I lost my husband and he lost his wife very suddenly.

"We had both been through similar circumstances and it brought us together."

They met at a line dancing class 10 years ago in Blackburn when Eileen taught Joe how to do one of the dances. They have been together since.

Eileen, a member of the Hyndburn Singers group, is retired but used to be a teacher, specialising in teaching dyslexic children.

She said: "It might sound odd for a former teacher to approve of writing in text-message language but it really helps with communication.

"Texting means that dyslexic children do not need to worry about spelling correctly, which can be very difficult.

"Anything that encourages someone with dyslexia to be confident about writing should be encouraged."

Granddaughter Joanne Whalley, 19, helped teach Eileen how to write and send text messages.

The Warwick University student said: "My friends can't believe it when I say I've got a text from my grandma, but she sends them all the time. She's really good at texting and fast at writing out the messages."