A WICKEDLY talented young writer has beat hundreds of aspiring authors to be announced as a winner of the prestigious Wicked Young Writers Award 2016.

Charlotte Morgan, 16, from Bradpole, was one of over 100 shortlisted finalists for the writing competition.

Her thrilling short story Desire of the Soul captivated judges, and on Friday, June 24, Charlotte, who attends The Sir John Colfox Academy, was joint-winner for the 15-17 year old age category of the competition.

Finalists were invited with their families and teachers to an award ceremony and celebration at the West End stage of Wicked at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Stepping off the stage after winning the award, Charlotte said: “I feel great. I’m shocked and so surprised.

“I went to see the musical and saw the competition and decided to apply.

“I didn’t tell anyone I had applied until I got shortlisted.”

Wicked cast members performed songs from the hit musical, as well as readings of the winning entries.

The awards, supported by Patron HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, have been running since 2010 to encourage creativity and develop writing talent in young people.

Since launching, over 20,000 young people have entered original pieces of writing.

Head judge, author Cressida Cowell, praised the standard of entries.

She said: “This year, my fellow judges and I read poems and stories that are poignant, amusing and captivating.

“They addressed really big issues, war, homelessness, prejudice, and abuse.

“There was an incredible range of styles and an array of brilliantly original voices, but they all had this in common: they made us judges feel something.

“As an author, one of the main messages I want to get across to the young people in this country is that a career in writing or the arts is an option open to them.”

She added: “Did you know that last year the creative industries made £10 million an hour for the UK economy?

“These young writers whether finalists or winners need to carry on writing.”

The winners all received a VIP family experience to see the award-winning musical Wicked, book tokens and £100 worth of books for their school library.

Talented Charlotte’s winning entry was a gripping twisted thriller.

She said: “It’s a horror and crime story and I got ideas from watching television shows and reading other books.

“I thought it would be a great experience.”

Unsurprisingly, Charlotte said her favourite subject at school is English. She just finished her GCSE’s and said they went ‘pretty well’.

Now, the young writer says she is looking forward to the future.

She said: “I’m going on to study my A-levels and creative writing and then I’d like to go on to university.”