Winners of a children's writing contest run by Airedale Writers' Circle were presented with awards on Tuesday night.

Children in two age categories - eight and under and nine to 13-year-olds - could enter either poetry or stories.

Children's writer and twice winner of the Carnegie Medal of Children's Literature Berlie Doherty presented the prizes at Keighley social centre for the blind. she is pictured right with the children. The event was attended by the Circle's Honor-ary President Malcolm Hoddy, editor of the Keighley News.

Poetry competition winner for the eights and under were Lisa Budimar, seven, of East-burn Junior Infant School and runner-up was Edward Dyson, eight, of the same school.

The nine-13-year-old triumphant poets were winner, Hannah Wilson, 11, of Skipton Girls' High, and runner-up Emma Armstrong, 11, of Bronte Middle School.

The eight and under winning story-writer was eight-year-old Sam Brown, of Oxenhope First School. The runner-up was Georgia Beatie, six, of Ness-field First School.

Successful story-writers in the nine to 13 category were winner Sebastian Pickles, 12, of Ermysted's Grammar School, and runner-up Carly Watson, ten, of Eastburn Junior and Infant School. Each winner received a £10 book token, runners-up a £5 token and all prize-winners and commended entries a certificate.

The circle's Lesley Horton was impressed with the entries. She says. "There are a lot of clever children out there."

Winning entries will be made into a small booklet and sent out to winners, runners-up, their schools and anyone else who desires a copy.

Keighley Community Chest donated £150 to the administration costs of the competition.

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