YOUNG scribes from years three, five and six at St Nicholas’ School in Church Crookham have written their way to success after entering a Short Story Writing Competition run by the Hampshire Cultural Trust - scooping two first prizes and three runners-up awards.

The girls had a choice of five story titles to choose from: ‘The Gift’, ‘The Best Thing Ever’, ‘Disappeared!’, ‘The Secret Door’ and ‘Footprints in the Snow’.

They had to write a complete story in a maximum of 250 words. There were two age categories: five to eight and nine to 11 years old.

Barney Jeavons, director of the West End Centre, Aldershot, and Lucy Crockford, the centre’s new community programme coordinator, came to present the prizes at a special assembly. Competition judge was children’s author Neal Layton.

In the ages five to eight category, first prize was awarded to Colette Harvey (The Best Thing Ever) and runner-up was Sophia Thomas (Footprints in the Snow).

In the ages nine to 11 category, first prize went to Sophie Spathoula (Disappeared) and the runners-up were Emma Wilson (The Secret Door) and Sophie Williams (The Secret Door).

“The girls were delighted with their prizes,” said Tracy Perrett, head of the junior department. “The first prize winners have both won Fire 7 Kindles, book tokens and signed books. The runners-up were awarded badges.”