Bridport Prize – the international competition for creative writing – has attracted a record number of entries this year.

Organisers at the town’s arts centre report 14,500 entries, up 40 per cent on 2008, with the renowned judges Ali Smith and Jackie Kay being a major factor.

In addition, online entries doubled indicating that the internet is the forum of choice for many writers.

Prizewinners will be announced by the two judges on November 22 at the Bridport Literary Festival.

They will also be giving a talk during the festival.

The Bridport Prize International Creative Writing Competition was founded by Peggy Chapman-Andrews in 1973 and has steadily grown in stature and prestige.

From the start the competition attracted entries from all parts of the UK and from overseas.

Today entries are received from more than 80 countries.

The prize money and entry fees have risen over the years as well and now the first prize in each category is £5,000, second prize £1,000 and third prize £500.

An additional 10 supplementary prizes, for each category, of £50 each are awarded, but for most the real prize is the prestige and credibility with publishers and literary agents.

In 2006, Fay Weldon agreed to become patron of the Bridport Prize and notable previous judges include Margaret Drabble, Jo Shapcott, Rose Tremain, U A Fanthorpe, Andrew Motion, Lavinia Greenlaw, Tracy Chevalier, Don Paterson and Jane Gardam.

Notable recent contestants include last year’s second prize poetry winner, Elizabeth Speller, who has been shortlisted for The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem in memory of Michael Donaghy – £1,000 sponsored by the Forward Arts Foundation – for her poem entitled Finistère.

For further information on the Forward Prize contact   Kate Wright Morris