TEENAGE bookworms from around the county helped choose the "Children's Book of the Year" for 1998.

A total of 450 teenagers, aged 13 and 14, were asked to select their favourite book from a shortlist in the Lancashire County Library competition, in partnership with NatWest Bank. The children's book "Jay" by nationally-acclaimed author Elizabeth Laird was picked as the winner in the 12th year of the annual competition.

The book is about a girl whose brother is taking drugs.

A total of 74 books which were nominated for the award were read by the teenagers.

Lancashire school children presented the award, along with a £500 cheque and a glass decanter, to the writer who is New Zealand-born but lives in London, at a special ceremony in County Hall, Preston.

County Councillor Dorothy Westell, chairman of the library and lifelong learning sub-committee said:

"I was impressed by the teenagers' enthusiasm and insight into some of the sensitive issues raised by the books.

"I am convinced it is a myth that children prefer to watch television and videos to reading books."

The young East Lancashire judges included: Rachel Greenwood, Bowland County High School, Grindleton; Vicky Houlton, Southlands County High School, Chorley; Matthew Howard, Our Lady and St John RC High School, Blackburn; Lauren Brindle, St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington; Simon Howarth, Towneley County High School, Burnley; Andrew Harper, Primet County High School, Colne, and Matthew Mulley, Alder Grange County High School, Rawtenstall.

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