of The Royal Gazette .

Six local talents received prizes for their tales -- picked from more than 400 stories -- entered in The Royal Gazette's annual Christmas Short Story Concert.

The winners in each category picked up $300 while the runners-up received $200.

Gillian Hazledine's tale of a modern day Scrooge who, with the help of Santa and the Internet, becomes a true believer in the spirit of Christmas took the top prize in the adult category.

Ms Hazledine was unable to attend last night's presentation as she was off the Island.

Runner-up in the adult category was Robert Jones. His humorous tale tells what happens when the Department of Immigration decides that Santa, being an expatriate, has no right to deliver his goodies to the Island.

In the Under-18 division, Elisa Gilsenan won the first prize with her story `Christmas Letters'. The story describes how a Bermudian student misleads her African pen pal about the Island and the life she lives. But honesty prevails in the end.

A year seven student at the Bermuda High School for Girls, Elisa yesterday said she had no plans for her prize money but admitted she looked forward to seeing her story in the newspaper.

Runner-up in the Under-18 category was Eloisa Mayers, a grade 12 student at Mount St. Agnes.

In her story, the author follows the exploits of a servant in the Bermuda of yesterday after he loses a prized package belonging to his employer.

Miss Mayers said she plans to pursue a career in writing.

Two special awards of $100 went to the authors of stories showing exceptional promise, regardless of category.

Lisa J. Barnes and 11-year-old Alexander Wentworth-Ping received awards for exceptional promise.

Ms Barnes wrote of a woman who overcame her prejudices and begins to appreciate the value of spending time with her family instead of at work after she is involved in a motorcycle accident on Christmas Eve.

Alexander, a Warwick Academy student, told a tale of a fanciful primary student who finds his dreams have become reality when he is called to the aid of Bermuda's Rasta Santa Claus.

The winning stories and some honourable mentions will be published in The Royal Gazette's special Christmas Greetings supplement on Christmas Eve.

WRITE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS -- Six local story writers yesterday picked up their prizes for their winning tales in The Royal Gazette's annual Christmas Short Story Contest. From left to right: Exceptional promise recipients Alexander Wentworth-Ping and Lisa Barnes, under-18 winner Elisa Gilsenan, and runners-up Robert Jones and Eloisa Mayers with The Royal Gazette's Neil Roberts and Heather Ratteray, two of the three contest judges. Adult winner Gillian Hazledine was unable to attend the presentation.

Graphic file name: SOTORIES COMPETITION CPN