A SUCCESSFUL national short story competition has been launched for the third year, with a new category and more prize money on offer.

Orange New Voices is organised by Darlington's Inscribe Media Limited backed, as in previous years, by The Northern Echo, telecommunications company Orange and Darlington Arts Centre.

Formerly called The Short Story Competition, it showcases new writers of all ages.

The free competition has three categories. The maximum length of stories for the adult category is 3,000 words. First prize is £600 with second and third prizes of £250 and £150 respectively.

Stories in the junior category must be no more than 2,000 words and the winner will receive £300, with prizes of £150 and £100 for second and third place respectively, as well as book tokens from Darlington bookstore Ottakar's. Entrants must be aged between 11 and 16.

The new category this year is for writers aged 17 or over who are asked to produce a story of no more than 2,000 words for children aged eight and under. First prize is £600, with second and third prizes of £250 and £150. In total, £2,550 in prize money is up for grabs. Orange New Voices is open to anyone from anywhere in the world. The closing date is May 31.

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 public relations and sponsorship manager for Orange, said: "Orange New Voices is an exciting opportunity to discover new writing talent of all ages. The standard of entries is always high and this year promises to be better than ever before. The inclusion of the story for children category is a new departure and will offer a challenge to those writers who wish to write for children.

"Orange is delighted to be able to help promote writing and provide opportunities and recognition for new unpublished writers."

Sheelagh Caygill, new media editor at The Northern Echo, said: "It is great to be able to support the creative arts with this competition, and I am sure the entries will once again be of an excellent standard."