Wimbledon BookFest has pledged hundreds of books to Merton schools as it launches this year’s Young Writers’ Competition today, on World Book Day.

In partnership with the University of Roehampton, the BookFest will be giving hundreds of books to Merton primary and secondary schools during the festival in October, including work from William Shakespeare and Roald Dahl.

And, now in its tenth year, the Young Writers' Competition will be inspired by those two literary greats, marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth.

Secondary school competitors will be writing about the Shakespearean theme of ‘Rivals’, while the primary school competition will be based around the very Roald Dahl theme of ‘Marvellous Mischief’.

Director of Wimbledon BookFest, Fiona Razvi, said: “Education is such an important element of the festival and we are really proud to be celebrating our tenth year with a competition that continues to inspire and engage young people.”

This year’s competition judges will include Gemma Malley, author of the Declaration Triology, Lindsey Barraclough, author of Long Lankin, and artistic director of the Polka Theatre Peter Glanville.

Tens of thousands of Merton school children have participated in the Young Writers’ Competition over the last ten years, including an estimated 4,000 children from 36 schools in 2015.

This year’s Wimbledon BookFest is scheduled to run from Friday, September 30 until Sunday, October 9.

Schools who want to get involved with the competition should contact Fiona Razvi on Fiona.razvi@wimbledonbookfest.org or Marina Vokos on marina.vokos@wimbledonbookfest.org