Almost 20,000 young authors took part in the annual Write-a-Book project for primary schools, which has just ended.

The figure is an increase of 13,000 on those participating last year. The number of counties participating rose too, from six to 21, and 500 schools were involved.

More than 30,000 children have written books since the project was launched more than a decade ago. Aimed at children between four and 12, this year's authors have been writing since September last. For the second time, the project went cross-Border, with 300 children in Belfast's Edenbrooke Primary School, off the Shankill Road, producing their own books.

The project is organised by the Network of Education Centres and is sponsored by the National Reading Initiative, the Library Council and the Primary Curriculum Support Programme. For further information contact Caroline Quinn at (01) 2300977.