WEST Northumberland pupils who took part in a writing competition organised by a popular book festival have been awarded prizes by an award-winning author.

Hexham Book Festival delivered a new creative writing competition to tie in with Hadrian's Wall 1900 anniversary celebrations.

Launching in March, organisers worked with Year 7 and 8 pupils at Bellingham Middle School, Haydon Bridge High School and Hexham Middle School to create short stories around the theme of 'Time Travel with the Romans'.

Author Dan Smith visited each school to launch the competition and to hold a talk and workshop.

The author of Big Game and Boy X then judged the stories and awarded prizes at a celebratory event which took place at the Sill on May 25.

Bellingham Middle School pupil Amelie Taylor was the overall winner of the Year 7 prize.

Fellow BMS pupil Isabel Stanners and Haydon Bridge High School pupil Jack Griffiths finished as runners-up.

Hexham Courant: Author Dan Smith with the Year 8 winner and runners-up.Author Dan Smith with the Year 8 winner and runners-up.

Meanwhile, Anna Cuthbert, of Hexham Middle School, won the Year 8 prize.

The runners-up for this year group were James Barker, student at Bellingham Middle School, and Haydon Bridge High School pupil Jack Scorer.

Hexham Book Festival and its kids arm StoryLand takes place from June 10-17.