A COMPETITION is launched today to celebrate, and help to revive, the short story as an art form.

The Short Story Competition is organised by Darlington-based Inscribe Media Ltd, backed by The Northern Echo, telecommunications company Orange and Darlington Arts Centre.

Designed for writers aged 17 or over, the free competition is open to anyone in Britain and the closing date for entries is March 31.

The theme is communication and the maximum length of stories is 3,000 words.

First prize is £300 and full details of rules and conditions are available on The Northern Echo website at www. theshortstory.co.uk or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to John Dean, care of The Northern Echo Newsdesk, PO Box 14, Darlington, County Durham DL1 1NF.

Leaflets will also be available at selected arts venues across the region. Regular updates will be published in The Northern Echo and on its website.

Maureen Dixon, regional PR and sponsorship manager for Orange, said: "The short story is an important element of writing and we are delighted to be able to support this competition.

"Orange has a strong track record of supporting the arts and, in particular, literature and is involved in a number of initiatives across the UK to promote writing in all its forms as something that is fun, dynamic and accessible to all.

"We have been involved in the acclaimed Orange Prize for Fiction for several years and The Short Story competition is a welcome addition to our literature portfolio and promises to highlight the wealth or writing talent both in the region and beyond."

Sheelagh Caygill, New Media Editor for The Northern Echo, said: "We're really happy to be supporting this creative venture and we hope it is a success."

* See www.theshortstory.co.uk For useful tips on writing, log on to www.orangelabyrinth.co.uk