A TEENAGE writer from Oxford has won a national short story competition judged by top novelist Ian Rankin.

Clare Coggins’ story, Basma, was chosen from about 80 entries from sixth-form students across the country in a contest run by the Franco-British Council.

The competition was set up to address the declining number of pupils studying French, with short stories having to be inspired by France or the French.

Clare’s story was inspired by the work of charity Médecins Sans Frontières, which sends doctors to conflict regions across the globe, and tells the tale of a volunteer who befriends a little girl in the hospital.

He teaches her to read and she teaches him to speak better French.

Headington School pupil Clare, who is 16 and lives in East Oxford, said: “I want to be a doctor and I am quite interested in the work of Médecins Sans Frontières, so that was my inspiration.

“I wanted to convey the stresses of life being a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières and I set it in a French-speaking country, Chad.

“I have been writing stories ever since I could write.

“When I was four or five, I used to write mini-ones and illustrate them.”

Entries for the contest, in its second year, were judged by Ian Rankin, Bonnie Greer, Baroness Quin, Tom Chatfield of Prospect magazine and Boyd Tonkin of The Independent newspaper.

There was also a category for undergraduate writers, and the winners of both competitions will have their stories published in Prospect magazine.

Clare was encouraged to enter the competition by her French teacher, Liz Soar.

Miss Soar said: “French is obviously spoken in many other countries and that is one of the things that is brought out in Clare’s story.”

Clare has won £100 and two tickets to Paris.

See the council's website for details of next year’s competition