Here is the winning entry to our children's creative writing competition. Lloyd's story won the primary age group award.

The Transformed Troll by Lloyd Spracklen, age 8 (Year 3) Wyke Regis Federation

Once there was a greedy, selfish Troll who never let anyone go near his dark, gloomy cave.

The horrible Troll had mouldy, green hair. His feet were heavy and were so loud you could hear him make every footstep. The despicable beast had yellow, smelly, sharp teeth. He would happily conquer anything in its way. He only washed his clothes with his mouldy hands and his dripping sweat so he was very disgusting.

Many people risked walking over the cave but most were food to a greedy beast! You wouldn't want to be near him when he was angry. However, as months went by, less and less people walked over the dark gloomy cave.

Suddenly, there were more and more people staying in. He was feeling lonely, confused and puzzled. People didn’t meet up, instead they used Zoom on laptops. There was a two-metre gap if they were out and about and some wore blue masks over their sad faces. He carefully listened to some talking and heard something about Covid-19.

The worried Troll was safe, alone in his dark, gloomy cave but he was incredibly lonely. For the first time in his life he was the scared one with no one to scare. A week later something called lockdown stepped in. Even less people were out and about. Only key workers were to go to work and people could only go out for exercise or to shop for food.

The virus going on gave the Troll lots of time to think. He thought about his past actions and behaviour and how to change. He thought about those he once scared and longed to see them again but not to scare them. For the first time in his life he felt sorry. He thought he could send them a card to say hello and he is sorry. He even decided to make food parcels to show everyone he had changed and to be kind at this difficult time ...he was a transformed Troll!

The story doesn’t end there ... The Troll carried on showing kindness and making people happy. After the lockdown he now had friends for the first time in his life.