A FATHER-of-four who has been writing songs since he was a teenager got as far as the semi-finals in the first ever songwriting competition he has entered.

Cecil Wood, 46, of Ruislip, entered three songs to UK Songwriting Contest 2009 which were all semi-finalists in the adult contemporary category.

His three songs were Can't Shake You Off, Out The Door and Tell Me Where I Stand.

The business development manager said: "I collaborated with a lady from Bolton on another song called Seeing Smoke as well and that was commended. She wrote the lyrics to that and I wrote the melody.

"It's the first competition I have ever entered because I wanted the songs to be perfect first.

"I would have wanted a bit more and if I had sung the songs myself I know I would have blown them away. But, it was cheaper for me to have the songs sung by someone else through a company called SCAMP Studios so a professional demo could be created."

Mr Wood has written a couple of hundred songs since he was a teenager and his biggest influence has always been the American singer-songwriter, Tom Waits.

"He writes great lyrics and he's just one of those great ballad writers," said Mr Wood.

"I also like The Beatles because of their love for melody. I like something with a bit of a message.

"I am a sucker for writing a ballad. Someone broke my heart before and it inspires me to write these kind of soppy songs,

"I mainly write songs for my own entertainment. It's a hobby that you just can't put down.

"I want to push it further now and I think the tide is turning and soon recognition of a lifetime's work will be achieved."

Demos and a clip can be viewed on http://cecilwood.vox.com.