A budidng author’s storytelling abilities helped her become a runner-up in a national competition.

Freemantle Academy pupil Jessica Baran was one of ten runners-up in the Littlewoods.com national children’s bedtime story campaign.

Her efforts won her a £50 voucher.

The competition was designed to encourage more bedtime reading among children in the UK, and saw nearly 1,000 children from across 19,000 schools take part.

They were asked to create their own story by submitting an illustrated storyboard based around their adventures with a magical friend.