A NORTH Yorkshire author is launching a prank competition for children to mark the publication of his first children's novel - Prankenstein.

Andy Seed, of Amotherby, near Malton, says the book is about a cheese-allergic boy called Soapy who loves pranks and who becomes the victim of a prank-playing monster.

"It has lots of humour and excitement," said Andy, author of the popular All Teachers Great and Small series of memoirs.

"The competition, organised by children’s publisher Fat Fox Books, is for children aged 7-12 to come up with an idea for an original new prank.

"Three competition winners will receive a big bag of joke shop novelties including classics such as rubber worms, chopped finger, whoopee cushion, loaded dice, fake doggy-doo and squirt ring, plus a signed copy of Prankenstein. In addition, the overall winner will have their prank included in the second book in the series: a fantastic opportunity to be published.

"Sixty finalists will also be selected to receive joke shop novelties such as whoopee cushions at a special Prank Presentation event to be hosted on September 7 at Love Cheese cafe in Gillygate, York, which I have chosen because cheese plays a big part in the story. The overall winner will be announced at this event."

*To enter the competition, children should write down their prank in no more than 50 words and email it, with parent/carer’s permission, to competitions@fatfoxbooks.com. The closing date is September 1. For more information and full competition rules, go to www.andyseed.com.