An Oxford author has received an international award for her memoir.

Louise Watts won 2024 Bridport Prize international memoir writing competition with her work The Words for Go Away.

She also pocketed £1,500 and secured manuscript mentoring with The Literary Consultancy.

Celebrated novelist and Bridport Prize judge, Kit de Waal, showered her with praise.

Mr de Waal said: "Never lapsing into too much interiority, the writing is often matter of fact and the descriptive passages are highly visual and poetic.

"This is a balancing act that’s difficult to achieve and yet it’s very well done."

Ms Watts said: "A turning point was in my early forties when I had small children.

"I took a short memoir course with Carmen Bugan who was inspiring - she recognised something in me, and gave me confidence.

"I connected with something in myself and the small spark of self-belief was lit."

Regarded as one of the most prestigious international writing competitions, The Bridport Prize began over 50 years ago.

It boasts a prize fund of more than £20,000, rewarding outstanding works in genres of Novel, Short Story, Poetry, Flash Fiction and, from 2023, Memoirs.

Ms Watts encouraged budding writers to take part and was optimistic about her future in writing.

She said: "For anyone thinking of writing a memoir and entering the Bridport Prize, whatever the outcome, it is an enriching experience.

"It is likely you will surprise yourself, discover things in the process about your experience and what your writing can do."