PUPILS at high schools across the Rossendale Valley are being encouraged to showcase their writing skills by entering a national competition.

And Rossendale MP Janet Anderson has pledged her support to the event and has contacted the head teachers of schools throughout the Valley asking them to back the Parliamentary Press Gallery writing competition.

The competition is open to youngsters in years 10, 11, 12 and 13.

Years 10 and 11 will be asked to write a letter to the leader of a political party suggesting a new idea for their next manifesto explaining why the proposal would be popular with voters at the next general election.

Years 12 and 13 need to write an article suitable for a national newspaper suggesting how first time voters can be persuaded to participate in the next general election.

The article should be accompanied with a suitable headline and be a maximum of 1,500 words.

The Parliamentary Press Gallery, which is the organisation set up to allow Parliamentary and political journalists privileged access to Westminster, celebrated its 200th anniversary last year.

As part of the celebrations it launched this writing competition for students and organisers are hoping to exceed last year's 400-plus entries.

Backing the competition Mrs Anderson said: "I hope all the schools will be able to support this competition."

The closing date for the competition is November 26.