Entry for this challenge opens on 21st August 2018 and will close at 12pm on 5th March 2019. No late entries will be considered.

The parents/guardians or tutors will be contacted via email, phone or post by 30th April 2019 if the child's story has been selected as one of the top ten stories in each category.

Each child selected as one of the top ten stories in each catergory will be invited to attend the awards ceremony with their family and/or tutor on 30th May 2019.

Only one story per child and wholly written by them.

This competition is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 13 on 1st April 2019 and a full-time resident of the UK.

Entries must be submitted by an adult (parent/guardian or teacher) on behalf of the child; and with parental consent. This adult may be asked to provide proof of age, identity and eligibility.

All entries must be written in English and only sent via the online entry form. They should be up to, but no more than 900 words.

The adult submitting the entrant’s story will be required to provide their own personal details and if not the parent, proof of approval from a parent/guardian to send the story.

The story must be an original work of fiction created by the entrant alone.

Adults may correct spelling only if the meaning of the word could otherwise be confusing. The stories will be marked on the creativity, not on correct spelling or grammar.

Please remember to keep a copy of your own entry.

Winners retain the copyright to their stories, but grant Leeds Castle a perpetual non-exclusive royalty-free licence to publish or post the entry online on any platform.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria: Creativity; Plot; Description; and Imagination.

Members of the Education Department at Leeds Castle will perform the first round of judging.

Ten of the top stories from each age group will be judged by a final panel, including Sir David Steel (CEO of Leeds Castle), Helen Ellis (Head of Education), Sarah Codrington (Head of Marketing) and Gemma Wright (Senior PR & Filming Officer).

The two winning children will also be invited to a very special day in June 2019 to take part in the planting of the time capsule.

Their prizes will include: A stay with your family at Knight’s Glamping during summer 2019 (2 adults & 2 children); a goody hamper with a range of Leeds Castle (age appropriate) gifts; a private guided tour of the Castle with your family; and Family tickets to the Fireworks Spectacular 2019.

Also as part of the prize, the two winners will be able to invite their class to a free self-guided visit for up to 40 children (to be used on the day). To be booked via the Bookings Office (Tel: 01622 767865).