400 entries this year in both the adult category and the under 18 division.

No poems or essays were accepted and the stories had to concentrate on the theme of Christmas and Bermuda.

Winner of the adult category was Gillian Hazledine whose short story told the tale of a modern day Scrooge who, with the help of Santa Claus and the Internet, becomes a true believer in the spirit of Christmas.

Runner-up in the adult category was Robert Jones. In his humorous tale, `All Wrapped Up in Beautiful Tape', we learn what happens when the Department of Immigration decides that Santa, being an ex-pat, has no right to deliver his goodies to the Island.

In the Under-18 division, Elisa Gilsenan won first prize with her story, `Christmas Letters'. The well-written story describes how a Bermudian student misleads her African pen pal about the Island and the life she lives. Told mainly through an exchange of letters between the two, honesty prevails in the end.

Runner-up in the Under-18 category was Eloisa Mayers for her tale, `A Box of Christmas'. 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.

Receiving awards for stories showing exceptional promise were Lisa J. Barnes and Alexander Wentworth-Ping. In `Cassava Pie', Ms Barnes writes of a woman who overcomes her prejudices and begins to appreciate the value of spending time with family instead of at work after she is involved in a motorcycle accident on Christmas Eve.

In `The Oleander Santa', 11-year-old Alexander tells the tale of a fanciful primary student who finds that his dreams have become reality when he is called to the aid of Bermuda's own, Rasta Santa Claus.

Cash prizes will be presented to the winners on Monday, December 15 at The Royal Gazette building on Par-La-Ville Road. The winning stories and also some honourable mentions will be published in our special Christmas Greetings catalogue on Wednesday, December 24, 1997.