A HAGLEY writer’s love of literature has earned her a place in the finals of a children’s story-writing competition.

Linda Mallinson’s tale has been shortlisted in Nestle’s Munch-Time children’s storywriting contest.

Entitled Munch and the Fancy Dress Party, about the adventures of Munch the cow, Linda’s 800-word story is one of ten in the running for the top £1,000 prize which will be decided in an online poll.

Grandmother-of-two Linda said: “It’s very exciting for me.”

The 63-year-old took up writing after retiring from her post as a maths teacher at Stourbridge’s King Edward VI College.

She joined Amblecote Writers Group, which meets at Holy Trinity Church Hall on Friday mornings, and decided to enter the Munch-Time competition after impressing her five-year-old grandson Oscar with her first ever children’s story.

She said: “It was just something I thought I’d try when I retired. I’d never written a children’s story before but one of my grandsons was the right target age for these stories so I tried it out on him and he listened to it, so I thought that was a good sign.”

Visit website munchtime.co.uk to read Linda’s short story and boost her chances of winning.

The deadline for voting is midnight on Sunday July 22.

To find out more about Amblecote Writers Group call Margaret Scott on 01384 372573.