YORK’S Mount School has encouraged children from all over the country to mark the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.

Pupils were invited to unleash their inner monsters to celebrate one of the most iconic and enduring works in English literature.

The Monsters creative writing competition is an initiative run by The Mount School in partnership with the York Literature Festival.

The judging panel - which includes Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini as well as a mix of writers and local teachers - have deliberated on the top three entries in each category, including short stories, poetry and flash fiction (a type of concise writing, such as tweetable stories).

The winners will be invited to a celebration at the school on Friday, March 23 - where they will also be asked to read their work.

The competition is just one of the many children’s events taking place during the festival, which runs for 12 days from March 15.

Events for junior literature-lovers taking place this year include Finders Keepers, a theatre experience incorporating music and puppetry, which will take place at the Theatre Royal on March 17, and a reading by children’s author Guy Bass, who created Stitch Head, at St Peter’s school on March 18.

Later in the month, there will also be a talk by York children’s author A.P. Winter, who wrote The Boy who went Magic, and poetry-writing sessions featuring York-based poets Carole Bromley and Anneliese Emmans Dean.

York Theatre Royal is the main box office for the festival and the majority of event tickets can be obtained from them on 01904 623 568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Information about lots more free events can be found at the festival website at www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk.