WIRRAL librarians are to lend their expertise to a national competition for budding writers.

Louise Rice and Laura Pringle, from West Kirby Library and One Stop Shop, are part of a judging panel for BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans’ 500 Words competition, which invites young people to produce fictional stories of no more than 500 words.

Other judges on the panel include volunteers and librarians from across the UK, as well as celebrities including Charlie Higson, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman.

The competition is open to children and young people aged between five and 13.

Stories had to be submitted by February, and now judges are tasked with putting together a shortlist of the top 50 stories, comprising the top 25 stories from the two age groups – five to nine and 10 to 13.

Louise said: “This is the fifth year I’ve been a judge, and every year the stories are of a very high calibre and I am struck by how gifted and talented the young people who have entered are.

“This year I have been chosen to mark the five to nine age group and I have 31 stories to mark. I think I’m going to be busy. Out of these stories I have to use strict marking criteria to pick one which I think is better than all the others.

“There are five areas of marking and scores are out of 10. We have to judge the stories based on originality, plot, characterisation, language and enjoyment.”

Prizes will be awarded to the three finalists in each age category.

The two gold winners will win Chris Evans' height in books - 6ft 2  and 500 books each for their school.

The two silver winners will win Alex Jones' height in books - 5ft 6.

The two bronze winners will win their own height in books.

The Top 50 shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend the final at St James's Palace, London in May.

Louise added: “Writing short stories is a form of escapism. It is a great tool for young people to have and links into literacy and reading.  It fuels their imagination.

"Anything is possible and, believe me, in these stories, I have seen everything. When I’m judging, I don’t mark grammar or punctuation, which is hard for a pedant like me. I look for a seed, an idea that takes flight and makes sense.”

Cllr Chris Meaden, cabinet mmber for leisure, sport and culture said: “Wirral has a history of producing great writers, so it’s good to see our librarians getting involved with a national competition which could potentially unearth a new talent.”

The top 50 stories will be announced on May 9.