KEIGHLEY children can get involved with a story competition launched by arts charity Settle Stories with bestselling author Cressida Cowell.

The free competition is being launched ahead of the Yorkshire Festival of Story 2020 and aims to find the next generation of storytellers.

Children aged between seven and 11 are invited to get creative during the UK lockdown – and entries can also be submitted by schools.

The competition will be judged by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, the author-illustrator of How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once series.

Free online resources are available for download via the Settle Stories website will help parents entertain and educate children during the lockdown.

A spokesman said: “Children may want to use inspiration from the UK’s current circumstances, or may wish to create something entirely different altogether, the only criteria is that the story is 750 words set in Yorkshire.

“Entries are encouraged to be unique, exciting, and imaginative. Teachers are able to submit multiple pupils entries at once following the guidelines online. The winner and runners up will receive a personalised response from Cressida Cowell for their story.”

The winner will also be awarded a storyteller visit to their school, ​signed copies of The Wizards of Once ​series and the first ​How to Train Your Dragon ​book and a signed print from Cowell.​ ​Second place and four runners-up will receive a range of fantastic prizes.

Winning stories will be performed by a storyteller as part of Yorkshire Festival of Story. Visit settlestories.org.uk for information and resources. The deadline for entries is 6pm on May 22.