The winners of a prestigious writing competition are soon to be revealed.

Authors are eagerly awaiting to see if their pieces have been chosen as the best in 45th annual Bridport Prize competition.

The Bridport Prize creative writing competition is one of the oldest literary awards in the UK and was established in 1973 by Bridport Art Centre's founder Peggy Chapman-Andrews.

Each year the judges award more than £18,00 in prize money for the best submissions in poetry, short stories, flash fiction and first novels.

As well as the money, winners of the poetry, short story and flash fiction competitions are published in the Bridport Prize Anthology.

Winners of the Peggy Chapman Andrews First Novel Award will receive mentoring with The Literacy Consultancy.

This year, the judging panel was made up of Daljit Nagra, Monica Ali and Kamila Shamsie, joining prestigious names such as Ali Smith, Roger McGough, Carol Ann Duffy, Kate Atkinson, U.A. Fanthorpe, Margaret Drabble, Andrew Motion and Tracey Chevalier in judging the competition.

Kamila is well-known in the competition, having previously won the Women's Prize for Fiction for her book 'Home Fire'.

The highlights this year included seeing the 2015 winner Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott sign a six figure publishing deal and have her first novel Swan Song published to rave reviews.

All of the funds raised from the competition help to maintain Bridport Arts Centre, making up 23 per cent of its annual income.

Curtis Fulcher, directer of Bridport Arts Centre, said: "It's an excellent prize and we're proud to be able to support fresh writing talent.

"The competition started as a fundraiser for the arts centre and we are forever in the debt of its founders.

"Because of the changing landscape for funding and support in the arts, we value the contribution it makes to the people of Bridport more than ever."

The Bridport Prize is ran by a small part time team and supported by volunteers, and still remains a great success story in the town.

A fundraising evening with the Bridport Prize Judges has also been organised, which will take place at the arts centre on Friday, October 19.

Daljit, Monica and Kamila will be talking about their writing and their experiences judging the prize.

Full list of winners will be announced on Monday, October 22, and entries for the 2019 will open on Thursday, November 15.

For more information about the prize, you can visit bridportprize.org.uk