THE WINNERS of a prestigious international creative writing competition have been revealed.

The 49th Bridport Prize awards ceremony went ahead on Thursday, October 28. Rather than a traditional event, this year's competition saw the winners revealed via a film.

The film, which is available for all to watch online was presented by best-selling author Kit de Waal and featured writing advice from the competition's judges: former editor of Faber & Faber Robert McCrum, Costa Book of the Year winner Monique Roffey, best selling novelist Victoria Hislop and highly-regarded poet Raymond Antrobus.

The awards featured six different categories, several of which having a first, second and third place along with highly commended writers. The six categories were: Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, the Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award, the Dorset Award and the Young Writer Award.

Bridport resident Kim Squirrell of the Ink and Page shop in West Allington, won this year's Dorset Award. Her published works include ‘Poetry Review,’ ‘Riptide,’ ‘Stand,’ and the Out of Bounds anthology.

The Poetry Award was scooped up by author, editor, producer and poet, Emma Walton Hamilton. Armen Davoudian and Erin Lambert Hartman finished in second and third place, respectively.

The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award went to Fiona Williams for her first novel, the House of Broken Bricks, which she began whilst completing an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Tamara Henriques finished second for her debut novel, Portrait of a Family.

Toronto-based Charlin McIsaac was given first prize in the Short Story category. She has collaborated on a number of devised theatre projects and has featured in several award-winning plays and is now branching into prose writing. Manischewitz Night is her first publication. Adam Welch and Cait Atherton took second and third.

P.C. Veronne won the Flash Fiction Award, with Miranda Overett in second place and Angela Wipperman in third.

The Young Writer Award went to Jamaican Poet Courtney COnrad, whose poetry explores the politics of race, religion,gender, sexuality and migration.

Alongside insights from industry experts, the awards film also featured interviews with this year’s Bridport Prize winners.

The Bridport Prize helps raise funds for The Bridport Arts Centre charity. It launched almost 50 years ago with the aim of funding the newly opened arts centre. The writing competition today has a prize fund of more than £20,000 and reaches over 100 countries from Australia to Yemen.