AN APPLEBY Grammar School pupil has scooped a £1,000 prize after winning an inaugural writing competition for Cumbrian sixth formers.

Hannah Sowerby picked up the prize after her essay, on the theme of ‘What I did in my hols’, was picked as the winner of the Hunter Davies Award.

The 17-year-old will also have her essay published in February’s edition of Cumbria Life.

“I’d forgotten all about the competition,” she said.

“When my teacher told me that I had won I couldn’t believe it. I was overjoyed and it brightened up my day of endless coursework.

“I’m still unsure what to spend the money on, but I may spend a bit on some driving lessons. Then save the rest until I’m sure what to do with it.”

Mr Davies said: “We were looking for good reporters, feature writers of the future, but also people with a literary turn, a sense of humour, able to handle conversation, narrative and most of all able to shape their own 1,500 words of personal experience so that you want to read on to the end.”