SCHOOLCHILDREN in Stockton have chosen their book of the year and the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony later this month.

More than 1,000 youngsters from 25 schools across the borough have been trying to find their favourite author from a selection of four books.

The books shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book of the Year award are Eager by Helen Fox, The Divide by Elizabeth Kay, The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird and Varjak Paw by S.F Said.

The ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday, January 25, in Stockton Central Library's lecture hall, from 4pm to 5pm, is now in its ninth year and is run by Stockton Borough Council's library service.