A weekly newspaper is on the look-out for a new generation of journalists.

Budding reporters are being invited to enter a writing competition as part of a special literary event in Yorkshire next month.

Malton and Pickering Mercury has teamed up with organisers of Ryedale Book Festival to launch the Young Journalist contest which is aimed at primary and secondary school children.

And entrants are being asked to write a short newspaper article inspired by the festival’s theme of “courage” – a topic chosen to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.

Andrew Pitt, a reporter with the Yorkshire Regional Newspapers’ title for the last 10 years, said: “We already have a page in the paper with news from Ryedale’s four secondary and countless primary schools.

“This will be the first time we have tried this type of promotion to encourage the young people of the district to show their writing potential.”

The competition will have two age groups – one for youngsters aged seven to 11 and another for students aged 12 and older.

Articles in the younger section should be no more than 200 words and up to 250 words for older writers.

A judging panel will draw up a shortlist of finalists who will then be invited to a ceremony in St Michael’s Church, Malton, at this year’s festival on Sunday, 12 October.

The winning articles will be published in the Malton and Pickering Mercury.

“Who knows, we might get a budding future reporter out of it,” added Andrew.

Entries should be submitted to [email protected] or Young Journalist Competition, Malton and Pickering Mercury, Newchase Court, Hopper Hill Road, Scarborough YO11