Primary school children in Hatfield took part in a short story competition - with St Philip Howard pupil Joseph winning the grand prize.

Hatfield Town Council tasked children from St Philip Howard and Southfield schools with writing a story about a dragon to coincide with World Book Day in March.

The closing date came just in time for April 23, which is William Shakespeare's birthday and also St George's Day - with St George famous for defeating a dragon.

Staff at Hatfield Town Council and the Welwyn Hatfield Times shortlisted entries from Key Stage One and Two.

The competition entries were very strong, with fantastic stories that kept the judges laughing, smiling and intrigued.

Joseph, from Class 4SD at St Philip Howard, was ultimately crowned the winner for his hilarious story about a group of dragons who made him into a snack for the king - which showed a creative use of words and a strong grasp of humour.

Here is Joseph's winning entry:

One time in a garden on a hot summer’s day, a little boy called Joseph was looking for four leaf clovers. Something, or someone, flew over his head.

All of a sudden, they landed in front of him. It was dark green dragons. They turned their head and pounced on top of him. Joseph jumped on one of their backs.

He flew to an old, untrustworthy castle. One dragon picked up Joseph and threw him on a BBQ then cooked him like a marshmallow.

The dragons take the cooked marshmallow human and take him to their king. Their king takes a bite and shouts "This is disgusting! What type of person is this? Tastes like burned rubber."

The king is very disappointed in his workers, storms off to their room and trashes it and leaves a note saying: 'I’m very sad in you dragons, so I’m leaving you with the strong men to beat you up with a cucumber and I’m leaving you forever and no I’m not sad about leaving you.

'Goodbye forever my friends.'

Three other winners were picked from the other key stages at both schools.

From Southfield School, the winners were Amber (KS1) and Archie (KS2), and St Philip Howard's Key Stage One winner was Nevaeh.

All four stories can now be read on Hatfield Town Council's website, and each winner will receive a special dragon bookmark and book voucher.

Hatfield Town Council would like to send a huge thanks to the staff and pupils of Southfield and St Philip Howard schools for participating.