Poet Laureate and Manchester Metropolitan University professor Carol Ann Duffy has won the Costa poetry prize

Some good news for Manchester this morning.

This from an MMU Press Release


Carol Ann, who is Creative Director at the University’s Manchester Writing School, won the poetry category for her latest collection, The Bees, her first since being appointed Poet Laureate in 2009.

Andrew Miller beat Booker winner Julian Barnes to take the accolade for best novel, while debut children's writer, Moira Young, won the children's book award for Blood Red Road. There were also categories for best first novel and best biography.

All five books will now have the chance of winning the 2011 Costa Book of the Year, which will be announced in London on 24 January.