A FORMER manager who swapped women’s prisons for writing has triumphed in a national competition with a short story about two women and their volatile mother.

Avril Joy has won the first ever Costa Short Story Award with her 3,000-word tale Millie and Bird. More than 1,800 writers, including well-known and published authors, entered the competition, but at a ceremony in London, Ms Joy, from Witton le Wear in County Durham, was named the winner.

The writer, who has also penned several novels, said: “Anyone could enter this competition and I knew there would be a lot of interest, especially as it was the first one, so to win is just amazing.

“Once I entered I just thought that would be it and I would hear no more so to actually win is wonderful.

“When I wrote my short story it felt special to me. I had no idea that it would resonate with so many readers. I am very grateful to everyone who has voted for me.”

Ms Joy left her role as head of learning and skills at Low Newton Prison, on the outskirts of Durham City, to become a writer after being inspired by the prisons’ writer-in-residence, Wendy Robertson, who ran workshops with the inmates.

Ms Joy’s story was one of six to be shortlisted for the £3,500 prize by a panel of judges which included Spandau Ballet pop star Gary Kemp and novelist Victoria Hislop.

The winner was decided by a public vote where the identities of all six writers were unknown.

This is the first year that the award, which is part of the annual Costa Awards which celebrate the best of modern literature, has been run.

Last year Ms Joy was shortlisted for the Bristol Prize, another short story competition, and the Costa Award is her first writing prize since 2003 when she received a Northern Promise award.

She started as a teacher at Low Newton before becoming the head of learning, a job she left in 2008 to focus on her writing.

She said she was inspired by the stories of the women she met in prison and has plans for more works in the near future.

For more information on her work, visit avriljoy.com