BEST-selling author Ruth Hamilton has hailed four Bolton youngsters as her "possible successors" after a writing competition revealed their talent.

Ruth -- born in Bolton but now living on Merseyside -- had got together with the Bolton Evening News to set up the competition for budding local junior writers.

For four winners, there was a £25 voucher each. But, for Ruth, it was the chance to highlight undiscovered young talent in her home town. "I know there is real talent out there," she stated. "I'd just like to find it."

And she was not disappointed.

Ruth was delighted by the standard of entries from young writers from all over the borough, and at the presentation at the Evening News' offices in Churchgate, congratulated the four winners on their work.

They were: Isabelle Yeung, aged seven, from Heaton; Keisha Grant, aged 10, from Westhoughton; Alexandra Bent, aged 11, from Tonge Fold and Lee Martin Tuff, aged 15, from Farnworth.

In particular, Ruth was impressed by the work of Keisha, a pupil at Sacred Heart Primary School. The author -- whose books, regularly featuring Bolton and its people, sell in their thousands -- even sent Keisha's entry to her own publisher, Transworld.

Editor Linda Evans was equally taken with Keisha's entry, and wrote to her, praising her story: "It is simply and powerfully told, and you have managed to describe the characters and the poignant situation very skilfully.

"I do hope you will continue with your writing -- you certainly have the talent to do so!"

Ruth echoed these sentiments at the presentation when she told Keisha that she had a "shining talent."

But, while all the winners were encouraged to "keep on writing" by Ruth, there is bad news for her and her editor.

Keisha has no future literary plans. "I want to be a human rights' lawyer," she insisted.