CREATIVE youngsters are urged to submit writings inspired by the First World War in a competition ahead of the deadline next week (Thursday, February 11).

The contest asks for submissions using words or music, from the perspective of the writer imagining they are at home in the town with relatives fighting abroad.

Entries can be in a story, poem, letter, diary entry, musical piece or song.

Musical pieces and songs entries will be in two categories – primary aged whole class contest for Key Stage 2 classes, and an individual contest for 11 to 16-year-olds in high schools.

Prizes for written and musical categories include book tokens and books for the school library, working with a professional composer and musicians to create a realisation of the winning piece. The winning class will perform at the Music Service Summer Showcase concerts next July.

Entries should be up to 500 words and poems up to 40 lines. Musical pieces should be a recording or notated score with a written copy of song lyrics and description of how the brief was tackled.

Deadline for entries is February 11 to any library, the Schools Library Service or email to kathrynboothroyd@sthelens.gov.uk.