A SCHOOL'S budding young authors were filled with excitement after getting into print with their spooky tales.

Little School of Horrors III is the latest in an annual series of horror and supernatural short story collections written by Year Seven students at West Monmouth School in Pontypool.

Head of year seven, Sinead Jones, said: “The pupils love working on the horror story in class and the possibility of getting their stories into print really pushes them to produce their best work.”

The book, published by Pontypool-based Daric Books, has been put together by local authors Richard Finlan and Darren Bowker-Powis.

“I’m so pleased to see how well this project went and how the students responded. Here is proof that if we engage with young people, encourage and inspire them, they will respond positively," said Mr Bowker-Powis.

“They were full of enthusiasm and couldn’t wait to get started on their stories."

Mr Finlan added: “Getting them to use their imaginations and write what have been really excellent tales of the ghoulish and ghastly, has been a joy for me as a writer in my own right. And to be able to see their work in print is just reward for all their hard work.”