AN IMAGINATIVE writer beat wordsmiths from across the country in a national competition.

Claire McHugh, of Priory Crescent, Wembley, is runner-up in Explore Learnings National Young Writers Award after she entered with a colourful story about beating bullies.

The 10-year-old pupil at St Georges Catholic Primary School in Sudbury Hill, Harrow, wrote Amazing Aoifes Adventure about a schoolgirl who learns how to tackle a bully at her new school by travelling to a strange world full of interesting characters.

Author of the Spy Dog series, Andy Cope, judged the competition and said: The entrants this year completely blew me away. These are some of the best young writers in the country and Ive loved the opportunity to get involved in a competition where we encourage children to put pen to paper, get inspired and create something thats never been created before.

The National Young Writers Award is an annual event organised by Explore Learning, which provides English and maths tuition to young pupils.