NEW authors in Huddersfield have been given the opportunity to enter a national story writing competition for children.

The competition is being organised by The Academy of Children's Writers.

Entrants will be in with a chance of winning a first prize cheque of £1,000 or second and third prizes of £200 and £100.

They must be over 18 years of age and entries must be unpublished.

The closing date of the competition is April 14, 2005.

Entry forms, together with competition rules, are available by sending a stamped addressed envelope to The Academy of Children's Writers, PO Box 95, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 5RL, or by e-mailing: per_ardua@lycos.co.uk