THIRTEEN year old ‘wannabe’ writer, Abby Walker, has returned from a creative writing competition in Somerset covered in glory.

The Staindrop School student, who has written stories since she could first hold a pen, entered a national creative writing competition run by the Taachi-Morris Arts Centre in Somerset entitled The Page is Printed.

The challenge for would-be writers was to write a p;iece of prose or poetry which fitted on to one A4 side of paper.

Abby submitted not one but three entries and was thrilled to hear from the judging panel that here work was shortlisted.

Abby and her family, who live in Toft Hill, were invited to make the long journey down to Somerset to attend the awards ceremony, held as part of the centre’s spoken word ‘open mic’ night.

Still believing her work to be shortlisted Abby was surprised and delighted when the judges announced that her piece ‘Dear Mum’ had actually won first prize.

Abby’s other submissions, “Crevasse” and “Evasive Protector” were highly commended by the judging panel.

Deputy head teacher of Staindrop School, Mrs Alyson Carr, who has supported and encouraged Abby in her writing career and has followed Abby’s progress in this writing competition, said: “Abby has real talent, we are incredibly proud of Abby’s achievement , she sought out this competition alone and without any prompting as she has the goal of becoming a professional writer.”