Airedale Writers' Circle has launched its 17th children's creative writing competition.

Anyone aged 13 and under is invited to enter the contest, which has two categories — stories and poems.

Entries can be word-processed or hand-written and should be on white paper. Poems can be of any length but stories should be no longer than 1,500 words. Prizes will be awarded to the winners and runners-up in each category, in two age groups — up to and including eight years and nine to 13.

A maximum of two entries per person is allowed and there is no entry fee.

Entry forms can be obtained from Mrs Maureen O'Hara, secretary, Airedale Writers' Circle, 20 Glenhurst Avenue, Park Lane, Keighley BD21 4RJ, or phone 01535 603119. For children wishing to enter independently, forms can also be obtained from Keighley, Ilkley, Bingley and Skipton libraries; from Fletchers stationers in Cavendish Street, Keighley, or can be downloaded from airedalewriters.btck.co.uk.

The closing date is March 16. Postal entries with a postmark dated that day will be accepted. Author Martyn Bedford will present the prizes in May.

The competition is sponsored by Pace plc, the Ecology Building Society and Speaks of Keighley.