Crime writer wins top British poetry prize

LONDON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- London crime novelist David Harsent Thursday won Britain's top poetry prize.

Harsent, 62, who pens crime stories under the name David Lawrence, won the Forward Prize for his poetry collection about war called "Legion," which is worth about $18,000, the BBC reported.

Helen Farish was honored for her first collection of poetry and the best single poem prize went to Paul Farley.

The awards were announced Thursday as part of Britain's National Poetry Day.