A PRIZE-WINNING novel written by Oxford children’s author Siobhan Dowd, who died two years ago, has been turned into a stage play.

The London Eye Mystery will be premiered at the Unicorn Theatre, on the South Bank, in the spring.

The story follows brother and sister Ted and Kat as they try to track down their cousin Salim, who has disappeared in mid-air from one of the London Eye’s pods.

Mrs Dowd, who lived in West Oxford, intended to write a series of adventure books starring Ted and Kat but she died of cancer aged 47.

The children’s theatre has joined forces with Mrs Dowd’s publisher, David Fickling, from Oxford, for a competition for fans to create their own Ted and Kat adventure. The judging panel includes Oxford author Philip Pullman.

The first prize is a private party for up to 20 people on the London Eye, followed by a trip to see a performance of the play and a chance to meet the cast and Mr Pullman, as well as a signed set of his books.

The runners-up will each receive a trip for up to four people to see a performance of the play.

For details of how to enter, see unicorntheatre.com Royalties earned from the play will go to a charitable trust set up in Ms Dowd’s memory to promote reading for underprivileged children.