THE achievements of young writers from the Malvern area were celebrated on Monday (September 18).

St James's School, West Malvern, was the venue for Malvern Writers' Circle Young Writer of the Year awards.

The winning writer was Francesca Brookes, aged 18, a former pupil of St James's School, who is now off to Bath University. She was presented with her prize by John Jenkins, president of Malvern Lions, after which she read her story, which was described as "beautifully written and powerful".

Equal second were Emily Watts, 16, of Hanley Castle High School, who was given her prize by John Murphy, editor of the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, and Alex Beard, 15, of St James's School, who was given her prize by Robert Walker of Whitt, Yeates and Ridley.

Candice Pearson, 16, of Malvern College, received the Malvern Writers' Circle award from its president Cora Weaver.

David Doyle, 15, of the Chase, won the Memorial Prize, which was given by Rachel Collyer, in memory of her father Don Grounds, a former treasurer of the circle. Camilla Walker, 13, of Hanley Castle High School, won the junior prize.

Guests heard a performance of the Mozart Violin Concerto by Julia Selalnazidy. Graham Gardner, of the University of Wales, gave a talk on reading and writing.