THE end of the summer holidays is approaching and with it, the start of the new academic year arrives.

Going back to college is a tough time for students, having to face ever increasing financial pressures. With a long reading list at the beginning of term buying course books can be an expensive business, so why not help your friends and relatives by giving them a National Book Token?

National Book Tokens make the ideal gift for students. They come in denominations of £1, £5, £10 and £20 and can be redeemed in over 3,000 bookshops in the UK, including WH Smith, Waterstone's Ottakar's, Blackwells, Borders, Books etc and local independents.

They can be given safe in the knowledge that they can only be exchanged for books, not CDs, videos and games, and they are valid forever- there is no cut off date for redemption.

We have £50 worth of National Book Tokens to give away to our readers.

First prize will receive a £30 voucher while two runners up will each receive a £10 voucher.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this simple question:

Q: Which English novelist wrote the Victorian classic 'Great Expectations'?

Send your answers, with your name, address and daytime telephone number to National Book Tokens competition, c/o Vicky Andrews, St Helens Star, YMCA Buildings, Duke Street, St Helens, WA10 2HZ.

Closing date is Friday 10 September 2004.