A poem about peace written by an 11-year-old pupil from a school near Westbury has beaten more than 300 entrants in a local young writers competition.

William Mallard, who attends Chapmanslade Primary School, was runner up in the Prior Park College young writer of the year competition, entered by 350 pupils from 20 different schools across Wiltshire and Bath.

And Corsham Primary School were also celebrating as they picked up the best school award at the Bath college’s competition.

The theme for this year’s competition was ‘peace’ and entries were judged by Prior Park’s head of English, Nigel Tattersfield.

The 21 children from the Year 5 and 6 class from Chapmanslade were entered into the competition by teacher Julie Devey.

She said: “We’ve been looking at the Second World War so I thought this would be something that could link into that.

“When we got to Prior Park for the awards there was a display of about 20 of the entrants and six of those were from Chapmanslade pupils, so they’ve all received certificates as well.”

William said although he was pleased to have been chosen out of hundreds of entrants, he especially enjoyed the hospitality at Prior Park College.

“It was great, they had cream cakes,” he said.

William, who will be going to Kingdown School in Woodcock Road, Warminster, in September, was presented with a £25 book voucher.

Harry Nickless from Springmead School in Frome and Mollie Fresle-McLaren from Norman Court Preparatory School near Salisbury were awarded the title of ‘Young Writer of the Year’ with Madeleine Meyjes from Prior Park College the second runner-up.

Corsham Primary School beat off competition from 20 other schools to take their award, and deputy headteacher Lindsay Fry said: “It went really well and we are very proud that our children from Years 5 and 6 won the Best School in the competition.”