A TALENTED youngster has won £100 for her short stories which she submitted to a competition run in memory of a North-East writer.

Teenager Rebecca Henderson, of Shildon, won the junior 14 to 17-year-old age group in the 25th Sid Chaplin Short Story Competition.

She also won the section to find the best story by a Shildon resident. Miss Henderson won a £50 prize for each category.

Judith Stafford, competition organiser, said: “The judges were very impressed by the quality of the writing and with the standard of the stories.

“We had just short of 160 entries from across the world this year and one entry came from France.”

Sid Chaplin, of Shildon, penned several stories about life in the coal mines and villages of 20th century County Durham.

His work, which includes The Day of the Sardine and Leaping Lad, continue to be well read more than 20 years after his death.

Shildon Town Council set up the annual competition in his memory.

Victoria Hoare, of Hampshire, won £200 for the best story by an adult.

Andrew Stainthorpe, of Barnard Castle, was second, winning £150 and Derrick Gilbert, of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, was third and received £75.

In the junior section Laura Heighington, of Shildon, won the ten to 13-year-old group and Connor and Ryan Usher, of Shildon, won the under-ten-year-old category.

The junior section winners were given £50 prizes.