SCHOOL students with a love of the past could become published authors thanks to a competition run by the Forest of Dean Local History Society.

The best entries in the competition for young historians aged between eight and 18 will be compiled into a book to be published by the society.

The topics are: children at work in the Forest in the 19th century for eight to 11-year-olds; a famous Forest person for 12 to 15-year-olds and a subject specific to the Forest of Dean for 16- to 18-year-olds.

The entries will be judged after schools close for the Christmas holidays on Friday, December 21.

There will be prizes for the top three entries in each age group and all entrants will receive a certificate.

The winning schools in each age group will receive a glass engraved trophy.

The society is looking to produce educational packs for all schools in the Forest to help children understand what is special about the area.

Members of the society recently took a trip around the hidden corners of the Forest.

The trip, led by Cecile Hunt and Averil Kear, started at Abenhall near Mitcheldean to see the 13th century church with its Freeminers' stained glass window and plaque.

Next was Flaxley Abbey, a Cistercian monastery rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 18th century and now a beautiful house.

After coffee at the Silver Fox cafe it was on Viney Hill and Parkend to Bickslade mines where Ron Beard explained about the Union coalmine and the current free mine.

They stopped for lunch at the Courtfield Arms in Lydbrook and the day ended with a visit to Hartbury village near Newent with its lovely multi-period church, 19th century bee shelter and 15th century tithe bar.

The society's next meeting is on Saturday (September 8) at the West Dean Centre in Bream when John Powell will give a talk on the River Severn. It starts at 3pm.