Writers of all ages were asked to write a 2,000 word story on the theme of Making Waste Work.

The prize was a Making Waste Work goodie bag and the chance to read their stories at the Darlington Storytelling Festival in August.

The judges were impressed by all the entries in both the under-16s and adults categories, and the winning stories were:

THE REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE INVENTOR AND HIS TRUSTY ASSISTANT SAVE THE DAY by Bryony Borrowdale, Age 9

SANTA THE RECYCLER by Peter King 

You can read the stories by clicking on the names above.