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Eleven-year-old Natalie, a pupil at St. John Bosco RC primary school in Blackley, earned ?100 each for herself and her school in the WH Smith writing contest.

In her essay, Natalie observes the moral decline in youths caught up in gang culture and recommends positive alternative pursuits.

She says: "Most of the time their school work starts to deteriorate and they lose all respect for their family. They could go to a youth club and football clubs. Maybe they could get a job like a paper boy and save the money for the future."

Natalie's literary success is just her latest triumph having last year won a Blackley in Bloom poster competition.

She said: "I joined a book club at school and became a bit of a book worm and writing just seemed to follow on."

Second prize was won by 10-year-old Lori Farrell of Pike Fold Primary and third prize by Dean Roberts, aged 11, of Crosslee Primary. Lori wins a ?50 voucher and Dean a ?25 voucher.

The competition was organised by the Blackley Youth Strategy Group made up of agencies, including Manchester Housing, the Youth Service, police and tenants. The prizes are funded from the local crime prevention budget.

Five Blackley schools were involved in the competition. Children were asked to write an essay on the theme "Intimidation by numbers." The competition was judged by four tenants' representatives and Councillor Basil Curley, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Housing.