BBC Radio Cumbria is launching a writing competition to mark World Book Day on 4 March. They have asked Maggie Norton of Ulverston Writers to write the beginning of a story - on the theme of shopping, because they're having a themed week looking at all aspects of shopping.

Senior Broadcast Journalist Belinda Artingstoll explains: "The idea is that Maggie will go into the studio this week and talk about creative writing in general. People will then be invited to write the rest of the story, up to 500 words, in time to post or email it to Radio Cumbria by 4 March.

"Then on World Book Day Maggie's intro will be read again on air, together with the best ending. If we get some good ones, we may run a couple of the others on the teatime programme that day too. And the entries will be put on to our website."

The start of the story is: "They met in the gardening section between the cane bundles and the John Innes...."

You can email your story by logging on to www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria and following the link which will be on the front page. Please note: the link will not be live until Thursday 26 February.

Also, BBC TV's new show Hustle will take you into a world with a whole new set of rules, where the good guys can be very bad and you can't always trust what's right before your eyes.

An action-packed blend of humour and intrigue, Hustle follows the fortunes of a gang of five expert con artists let loose on the streets of London.

They have one golden rule: only steal from the greedy. Their targets are people we love to hate and can't wait to see being taken down a peg or two.

BBC Get Writing invites you to write a 1,000 word monologue to win a workshop with the series creator Tony Jordan. The monologue should be for a single character who is involved in a scam. (It could be the victim, the perpetrator, a passer-by, the husband, the arresting officer or someone from victim support etc).

In 1,000 words, get your character to tell us their story of the con.

It should be unique, i.e. different from characters and storylines in Hustle.

The 4 best entries will win a workshop at the BBC with Hustle series creator Tony Jordan. The winning writers will work with Tony to develop and improve their monologues. The monologues (read by actors) may then be videoed and subsequently shown on the Get Writing website.

To enter you must be over 16 years if age and a UK resident. You must never have had a fictional script of story commissioned for television or radio or had fiction commissioned for publication.

Your monologue must be no more than 1,000 words. In addition, each must be accompanied by a 200-word 'back story' setting the scene (details are given on the entry form).

Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form. For a copy of the entry form, or for more information about Get Writing with Hustle including fill competition rules and guidelines, visit the website or call the freephone number.

www.bbc.co.uk/getwriting or call free on 0800 066 066 Submit your entry via the website, or by post to: Get Writing with Hustle Competition, Room A300, BBC Centre House, 56 Wood Lane, London W12 7SB The deadline for entries is 7 May 2004.