A short story competition is calling for writers to get creative in a bid to win cash prizes.

Entry is now open for this year’s Wimbledon BookFest Short Story Competition.

Stories must be no more than 250 words and the theme is a Brave Face.

A panel of judges will create a short list of 12 entries which will be read to an audience by the writers or another nominated person in the Big Tent during Wimbledon BookFest from October 2 to 11 this year.

Afterwards the audience will have a secret ballot to vote on the winner.

Last year a touching story about a brownie who misunderstood the brownie promise by Laura Collier was crowned the winner, with Eve Gets Even by Andrew David Burchill scooping second.

Ronnie Dunbar's The Promise came third after an audience vote of the finalists. 

The judges are looking for original work within the 250 word limit on the theme of a Brave Face.

The winner will receive £50 and the second and third places £25.

The judges are, Sian Hughes, award winning short story writer, Jenny Lee, actor and impresario, Tony Kane, editor at large, Time & Leisure magazine, Jenny Hartley, former head of creative writing at University of Roehampton and Leone Ross, senior lecturer in creative writing at University of Roehampton.

Organisers said Ms Ross will offer to any competitor a coaching session on reading in public if requested on entry.

To enter, email your entry with your name at the bottom of the script by July 19 to shortstory@wimbledonbookfest.org.

A fee of £10 must accompany the entry.

Either send a cheque to Wimbledon BookFest,The Old Post Office, 1 Compton Rd, Wimbledon, SW19 7QA or visit the website www.wimbledonbookfest.org.