ENTRIES for a short story competition launched in the region have topped 350.

The national competition was launched in January, organised by Darlington-based Inscribe Media Ltd, backed by The Northern Echo, Orange and Darlington Arts Centre.

In addition to the £300 first prize, the winner will receive a two-night trip to the presentation of the Orange Prize for Fiction, in London, on June 8, available to any entrant living in Britain.

Stories have been received by writers from around the UK, many of them from the North-East and North Yorkshire, as well as some from India, the US, Sri Lanka and eastern Europe.

Designed for writers aged 17 or over, The Short Story Competition is free. The theme is communication and the maximum length of stories is 3,000 words.

Full details of rules and conditions are available on The Northern Echo website at www. the shortstory.co.uk.

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

The closing date for entries is tomorrow.