A new award that sets out to find young people with a love of cars, travel and words has been set up in memory of one of Britain's most respected award-winning motoring writers, the late Phil Llewellin.

Phil, who died suddenly last year while on holiday in Croatia, aged 64, was counted among Britain's best motoring and travel writers with an enthusiastic sense of adventure that led him to drive more than two million miles in every conceivable type of vehicle.

Phil, who lived in Shropshire with his wife Beth, was famously good at welcoming young writing talent to his circle and was a member for many years of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers.

Now the group is sponsoring, along with a number of major motor manufacturers, The Phil Llewellin Trophy, which is aimed at budding motoring writers, aged up to 16.

They are being asked to write a 500-word story on their ideal car and the first trip they would like to make in it.

The winner will receive £1,000 worth of travel vouchers. In addition Audi will lend the winner and his/her family a top of the range Audi for a week's free use.

Aston Martin will also give the winner and their family a trip round the Aston Martin factory at Gaydon, near Banbury, followed by a ride in one of the newest models.

Applicants will also need to say how they will use the travel vouchers and their answer will be used in the event of a tie for the winning entry.

The trophy and prize package will be presented to the winner at a meeting of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers this autumn.

Beth Llewellin said: "Phil was delighted to see young people setting out on the road to motoring journalism a career he loved and which took him all over the world. He would have been thrilled to think a group of fellow writers was giving his name to an award like this.''

  • For an entry form and all the details, e-mail your name and address to words@theverts.co.uk