TALENTED young crime writers from the Island will be honoured at a ceremony at the Henry Bloom Noble Library in Douglas later this month.

Seven writers have been shortlisted for the Isle of Man region in the National Young Crime Writers' Competition run for the second year by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA).

Organised by the CWA and library authorities, the competition invited writers aged up to 18 to submit 1,000 words of crime fiction.

At the event in Douglas on April 28 the shortlisted writers will learn which of them has been selected to go through to the national final which will be judged by senior CWA members.

The national winner will be announced during National Crime Writing Week which takes place from June 13 to 19.

The shortlist was selected by crime writer Chris Ewan, the local area co-ordinator for the CWA, working together with local library staff.

Chris, who is known for his Good Thief's Guide series of novels, said: "It's been a pleasure to help judge the competition in its second year and I'm very much looking forward to meeting the shortlisted writers at our local award ceremony.

"The National Young Crime Writers' Competition is a fantastic opportunity and I'm thrilled that a number of local writers have applied their considerable talent and dedication by taking part."

The competition is sponsored by CRIMEFEST, Britain's international crime fiction convention.