A Roehampton University professor has won the TS Eliot Prize for his collection of poems.

David Harsent, professor of creative writing, read excerpts from the collection, Fire Songs, at an event at the Royal Festival Hall before his success was announced at the Wallace Collection.

Professor Harsent, who lives in Barnes, said: "It is particularly pleasing to win this prestigious award as TS Eliot was one of the writers who first drew me into poetry."

His first reading from the collection after winning the prize takes place at Poetry East, Bethnal Green, on January 24.