An 11-year-old from Epsom has been named as a runner up in the National Young Writers’ Award.

Kathryn Chieng, from Wray Common Primary School, won the title for the region with her story called The Terror of Sleeping.

The Terror of Sleeping is about a young girl called Marnie, who falls asleep in class and finds that her dreams are actually reality.

The competition was organised by tuition provider Explore Learning, which has a centre in Epsom, and the theme for this year’s entries was Strange Events and Peculiar Happenings.

Almost 15,000 children from around the country entered the competition, which was judged by best-selling author Jonathan Meres.

The winner, 12-year-old Alexander Boxall from Eastbourne, received a trip to Disneyland Paris and £500 worth of books for his school, and every runner up was given a cup.

Judge Mr Meres said: "The standard of stories really has been exceptionally good, which on the one hand has made for some very entertaining reading for me, but on the other hand has made the task of choosing just one overall winner extremely difficult and frankly, almost impossible.

"Whatever you do, keep on writing!"

Explore Learning provides English and maths tuition around the country to children aged five to 14, and run a number of creative writing workshops.

Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning, Carey Ann Dodah, said: "Yet again we have been blown away with the amazingly creative, funny and astonishing stories.

"I can’t emphasise enough the benefits of writing for children; it gives them an outlet to escape into a whole new world, one where anything goes and they are boss!

"We’re thrilled to see so many children enter this year."