WINNING the national short story competition run through The Northern Echo has proved a springboard for the writing career of Jan Hunter.

The teacher, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, won last year's competition with Unconditional Love, a harrowing story about the effect of Alzheimer's disease on a family.

Now named Orange New Voices, the competition, which is sponsored by telecom company Orange and Darlington Arts Centre, has been launched again.

Mrs Hunter, head of drama at Stokesley School, beat almost 300 other entrants in the adult category last year.

Her story, written two years ago, was based on the last stages of her mother's life. Margaret Welford, 77, of Scarborough, died from Alzhei-mer's disease.

Just before Christmas, another of Mrs Hunter's short stories, The Seven Ages of Christmas, was one of the winners of a competition run by publisher Route-Online. The piece was published in Route-Online's Christmas anthology.

Orange New Voices aims to showcase exciting 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.

Stories for 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, as well as tokens from book shop Ottakar's. Entrants must be aged 11 to 16.

A new category this year is for writers aged 16 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.

Orange New Voices is open to anyone around the world, and the closing date for entries is May 31.

Full details are available on www.theshortstory.co.uk