PRIZES at the first ever Magic Oxygen Literary Prize will be handed out after judges waded through more than 800 entries from writers across the world.

Editor in chief at Lyme Regis-based Magic Oxygen Publishing Simon West believes the competition has proved popular because entrants are rewarded with a tree being planted in their name - while entry money has been used to build a classroom.

"We wanted to do something better than a regular literary prize" said Simon. "As well as the trees which authors can track with GPS co-ordinates, the entry money is being used to build a classroom at Kundeni School in Bore.

"We chose Kenya because countries on the equator do the best work in absorbing carbon dioxide - and it is fantastic for the writers to be rewarded with something for their work, even if they have been unsuccessful."

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at The Hub between 11am and 1pm on Saturday as part of the first ever Lyme Regis Literary Festival.

"The Literary Festival is absolutely vital to the town - I have no idea of why there has never been one in the past" added Simon.

"Literary is always at risk of poor education and educators need every tool available to encourage children to be readers and writers."

For more information on the Lyme Regis Literary Festival, log onto lymelit.org.uk