A young storyteller impressed judges in a creative writing competition in memory of the First World War.

Frank Whittaker at Dean Valley Primary School had the panel of judges gripped with his entry into the Year Six writing competition run by the council as part of its ‘Cheshire East Reflects’ project.

His story features character ‘Will’ in his armchair in his apartment at a care home, drifting in and out of sleep as he recalls his experiences at war in his dreams.

This includes a tough Sergeant, called Noble, towering over terrified new recruits yelling at the top of his voice and some of Will’s grim experiences in the trenches.

It ends: ‘Margaret was waiting for Will to wake up, she was sat by his bed. When he opened his eyes he was surprised to see his beautiful, but dead, wife. “I’ve been waiting for you, Will,” then she kissed him.’

The judging panel, made up of local councillors, received more than 50 entries and were impressed with the standard of creative writing. Pupils and staff of Dean Valley Primary School welcomed Cheshire East mayor Hilda Gaddam to school to present Frank with his prize of £1,000 for the school.

Coun Gordon Baxendale, from Cheshire East Council, said: “I was very impressed with the overall standard of entries from all pupils.

“Frank wrote a very heartfelt and creative piece of writing and was a worthy winner.”

Cheshire East Reflects is a four year programme of activities to commemorate the First World War for residents and visitors to Cheshire East.