FEARING that millions of people are allowing their creativity to die, Great Western Railway and Blur bassist Alex James have called on passengers to channel their inner poet to be in with the chance of winning a year's free rail travel

A study carried out by the rail operator found that more than a third of those surveyed claimed they had let their talents fall by the wayside now that they’re adults.

In a bid to get our creativity flowing again, GWR and writer and musician Alex James have today - on National Poetry Day - launched a national poetry competition, asking passengers to channel their inner creative thoughts and pen their favourite ditties while travelling by rail.

To get people started, Alex has written a poem inspired by his regular journey travelling from his home in Kingham, Oxfordshire, to London Paddington.

The research found that we a re a nation of talented youngsters, with 42 per cent of those polled claiming they played a musical instrument as a child while a fifth used to write poetry. 46 per cent of the 1,500 Brits surveyed admit to putting their artistic flare to rest since becoming an adult, ditching the sketch books and colouring pens while over a third (37 percent) said they quite fancied themselves as an author as a child but have put down the pen since becoming an adult.

Busy lives, a lack of interest, family commitments and the inability to switch off were hailed as the main excuses used for a lack of creative drive.

Alex James, who will stand as a judge of the Inspired Lines competition, said: “There are always a few hours in the day or week where we can turn our hand to our talents and tap into our inner creativity. Whether it’s a walk in the country or a particularly scenic train journey, use your downtime to tune into your creative mind.

“Rail travel has long been the source of inspiration for many poets – just look at Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, who created much of his work aboard a GWR train. I’ve penned a landscape-inspired poem, written whilst travelling along a scenic GWR line from Kingham to London Paddington. I love switching off and being immersed in what I can see out of the window. I’m excited to see how people will interpret their creative thoughts.”

The winner will receive free rail travel on GWR for a year, on a selected ‘immersive’ seat – which has the best window views for any budding Poet Laureate to switch off and write, and the first 50 to enter will also receive a free GWR ticket. The winner will also have their poem featured on station posters across the GWR network.

GWR campaign manager Candice Couillard said: “We want to encourage our passengers to discover their inner poet, inspired by taking the train and looking at the stunning scenery on GWR train routes. Our routes run through some beautiful places in the UK including Dawlish and the Royal Albert Train bridge, alongside stunning coasts, rolling green countryside, heavily wooded valleys and fine river crossings. Some of the best short breaks are staycations by train, and riding the GWR routes will allow you to see stunning sites and fully immerse yourself in places such as London, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall, Oxford and the Cotswolds.”