A YOUNGSTER from Oxford has been named a runner-up in the National Young Writers’ Award.

Lina Maria Marrow, pictured, from St Aloysius Primary School, won a 500-word story competition, with her tale Colours.

The competition, which had the theme Strange Events & Peculiar Happenings, was judged by best-selling author of The World of Norm series, Jonathan Meres.

He said: “The standard of stories really has been exceptionally good, which on the one hand has made for some very entertaining reading for me, but has made the task of choosing one winner extremely difficult and frankly, almost impossible.”

Almost 15,000 children from all over the UK entered in an effort win a trip to Disneyland Paris and £500 worth of books for their school, with Lina herself winning a cup.

Carey Ann Dodah, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning, which runs the competition said: “This year’s National Young Writers’ Awards attracted more entries than ever before so Lina Maria should be very proud of her success.

“Yet again we have been blown away with the amazingly creative, funny and astonishing stories. I can’t emphasise enough the benefits of writing for children. It gives them an outlet to escape into a whole new world, one where anything goes and they are boss.

“We’re thrilled to see so many children enter this year.”

The overall competition was won by 12-year-old Alexander Boxall from Eastbourne and his story That’s a Wrap.