THE entries are starting to arrive for the national short story competition run through The Northern Echo.

Also backed by Orange and Darlington Arts Centre, the competition is organised by Darlington-based Inscribe Media Limited.

There are two categories and the adult section has now topped 50 entries, with many of the writers coming from the North-East and North Yorkshire. The furthest-flung adult entry came from a writer in South Africa.

Entries for the junior section are less numerous, and competition organiser John Dean appealed for more young writers to enter.

Mr Dean, who will be one of the judges for the junior category, said: "We do hope that young writers send their work in.

"This is a new category this year and the entries already received show the amount of talent which our young people have."

The adult section is for writers aged 17 or over. The maximum length of stories is 3,000 words. First prize is £300.

The junior section is for writers aged 11-16. Stories must be no more than 2,000 words and winners will receive a book token donated by Darlington bookstore Ottakar's.

Writers are asked to clearly mark which category they are entering. 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, The Northern Echo Newsdesk, PO Box 14, Darlington, County Durham DL1 1NF.

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