TIME is running out for young writers to enter a history writing competition and win some exciting prizes.

Entrants have until Sunday to write between 300 and 400 words on a history topic - fact or fiction - and a brief explanation on why they wrote about it.

The winner will receive a digital camera and their school will be given £100 worth of books.

The second placed entrant will get an annual pass to Colchester Castle for two people and the third placed entrant will get a £50 Wivenhoe Bookshop voucher.

The top three will also receive an exciting tour of the Daily Gazette's newsroom and the top three stories will also be published.

A brother and a sister from Rowhedge are among the 11 to 18-year-olds who have entered so far.

Luke Burridge, 13, from Westcliff Grammar School for Boys and his sister, Isabelle, 12, from Southend Grammar School for Girls have entered.

Wendy Bell, their mother, said: "Luke and Isabelle are fascinated by history and living close to the oldest recorded town they have a great deal of history to keep them occupied.

"This competition provided an opportunity for them to capture a snapshot of the history of Colchester and we are very lucky to have Colchester Castle as they bring history alive."

It is being run by Sally Anderson-Wai of Write Wai PR and Copywriting Services and Andrew Summers of Essex Hundred Publications.

The Gazette, Colchester Castle and Wivenhoe Bookshop are sponsoring the prizes.

Entries should be emailed to sally@writewai.com by Sunday.