A TEST Valley village is encouraging children’s interest in local history through its John of Gaunt Award.

The Somborne and District Society launched the award's latest theme, local history spaces and places, at an assembly at King’s Somborne Primary School.

The award, which has been running for more than 20 years, is open to all primary school-aged children living in the district or attending the village school.

Children, aged six to 11, are welcome to create a poster, comic, model, poem, story, project, or picture.

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Entries are judged on what they say about local history with credit given for accuracy of historical information such as names, evidence of using primary sources, for example drawing or photograph of a building, and noting where they sourced information.

Last year, the judges enjoyed the care and enthusiasm in the children’s work with details like inscribed gravestones in a drawing of the church and a photograph of a monument to show it had been visited.

The competition offers National Book tokens of £20, £15 and £10 for first, second and third prizes, with a legacy trophy that the winner keeps for a year. Occasionally a highly commended prize of a book is also awarded. Everyone that enters receives an entry prize as a well done for entering. 

This year's competition launched on Monday, October 16 and runs until Wednesday, November 22. 

Entries must be accompanied by an entry form, available from King’s Somborne Post Office, Somborne and District Society monthly meetings or tricia@silver-warner.co.uk.