The Cheshire Prize for Literature

Catherine Jones, from Stockport, took the £2,000 prize for her short story for children entitled A Wisp of Green Smoke. She was presented with her award by Tony Robinson.

As the winner of the competition, sponsored by Chester-based Bank of America, Catherine said it was a “huge surprise”. Catherine works as a local authority Conservation Officer responsible for the listed buildings and conservation in Tameside.

She said: “It’s still sinking in. I have enjoyed writing all my life but I’ve only recently had time to pursue it properly. This is only the second writing competition I’ve entered so I’m delighted with the result.

“I’m hoping this is the start of something new which will open doors for me. I had lots of good feedback which is very encouraging.

“It was a weird and surreal feeling to hear Tony Robinson read out my words. I was absolutely chuffed to bits.”

Four other writers were highly commended for their work:

Angela Topping from Northwich for her poem Maggoty Johnson (the only poem to be highly commended)

Ingrid Dean from Alderley Edge for The Pirate

Barbara Holliday from Little Sutton for The Day that Grief Came to Stay

Gabrielle Pearson from Chester for The Hoodie.

We will be contacting the writers whose work will be included in the anthology before Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition.