Many thanks to everyone who has sent a short story entry already – we love early entries and would like to remind you that you have until 31 March to take advantage of the ‘early-bird’ entry fee of £6. The standard entry fee of £8 will apply from 1 April until the closing date, 31 May.

We are looking forward to reading all your lovely stories and are delighted to announce that our guest judge this year is Jennie Godfrey (The List of Suspicious Things).

You can read some of last year’s winning entries by clicking on the highlighted links below:

First Place: The Job at Dobson’s by David Bonnett

Second Place: Ben Garrett Saved My Life by Sally Curtis

Third Place: The Draugr by Robert Campbell

Highly commended: No One Wants to be Second Best by Sue Smith and A Struggle for Words by Fiontan Fleming.

First Prize for best local entry: The Draugr, Robert Campbell

Second Prize for best local entry: White Rose, Genevieve Flintham

Highly commended local entries: The Bookmark, Nikki LLoyd and On the Border, Robert Campbell