A MOVING tale of a teenage boy with schizophrenia and a misunderstanding with tragic results scooped a young person’s literary prize for Chase pupil Martha Merrell.

The Loner impressed judges including novelist Dr Graham Gardener and poet Dr David Arnold to take home this year’s Young Writer of the Year award, held by Malvern Writers’ Circle.

Martha, her parents, and her English teacher attended the awards ceremony at Malvern College last Friday where extracts from each of the five finalists’ writing were read out.

She said: “There were some really, really good ones so I was quite surprised to win.”

Martha, aged 16, said she was encouraged to write more fiction following her win, and would also be choosing English Literature as an A-level subject next year.

As well as a cup recognising her efforts, she received a £100 cash prize and, of course, the admiration of her friends.

She said: “They were really proud, and want to come shopping with me to help me spend the money.”