THURROCK Writers have been busy getting ready for the Thurrock Writers Festival, to be held on May 18 at Grays Library.

Stories and poems in the competition with receive book token prizes given by Waterstones.

The group has an anthology out that will be on sale on the day.

President Joy Ridgewell welcomed new member Steve Grimshaw, who has just returned from teaching in Japan.

Everyone is enjoying the challenge of the exercises set by Cindy Barber, who is head of history at Palmer’s College.

With the work going on for the festival we have not been able to have a speaker as yet this year, but arrangements are in hand for the next few months.

Next meeting is on May 15, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Hugh Delargy Close Hall, in Chadwell St Mary.