A MAGNIFICENT seven Glasgow writers who revealed what 'home' means to them in a national competition will have their stories published in a book.

They took the prize after more than 500 would-be authors attempted to win a place in Scotland's Stories of Home, alongside authors such as Alan Warner, Vic Galloway, Des Dillon and Beatrice Colin.

To celebrate the third year of Book Week Scotland, which runs from November 24 to 30, around 150,000 free copies of the anthology will be distributed around the country.

Sam Gates, a retired teacher living in the West End, submitted Close, which looks back fondly on his time living in a tenement flat in Yorkhill,

He explained: "I particularly enjoy factual writing, which is what attracted me to Scotland's Stories of Home. It's a subject which means a lot to all of us."

Anne Brittain, an administrator at East Renfrewshire Golf Club, wrote her tale, 43 Dumbarton Road, about her own childhood, growing up next to John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde.

She said: "The project has allowed me to share a very personal experience of an extraordinary place and time that were 'home' but are now history, and to express a certain sadness at the loss of John Brown's iconic shipyard and much of the Scottish culture.

"I'm delighted and proud to be included in the book, and to be able to share my story with others."

Margaret Boyce, a classroom assistant working in Paisley, wrote Oor Street, a story written in Scots.

"I am chuffed to bits that my little story has been judged worthy to be included in the anthology," she said. "This wee tale, from cherished childhood memories during the years I lived with my family in the South Nitshill area of Glasgow, is dear to my heart."

The other Glasgow winners were Derek Parkes, a quantity surveyor living in Shawlands, who wrote a poem, White Goods; Moira Yarwood, a retired medical secretary from Govan writing as Moira Cameron, with her story Lobster Legs; John McGlade, a freelance writer, with his short story, The TARDIS; and Frances McHugh, a retired secretary living in Cathcart, with her story Be a Brick.

The competition was run by Scottish Book Trust, which promotes literature, reading and writing in Scotland. All the stories entered for the competition are available to read at www.bookweekscotland.com.