WHAT do you think happens inside a museum when the lights go off, the doors are closed and all the visitors have gone home?

That is the question being posed by The Novium Museum in Chichester, for its first-ever creative writing competition for children.

The contest is aimed at children up to the age of 12. The winning author will receive a museum sleepover for their class of up to 30 pupils who will have the opportunity to experience first-hand what really happens in a museum at night.

The competition is open to children who live in the Chichester District and neighbouring areas. Entries must be a maximum of 500 words and can take the form of a poem or prose. The museum featured in the writing can be The Novium Museum itself, an imaginary museum or any other museum that the writer has visited.

Closing date for entries is Saturday, October 24. Entry forms are avaiable from the museum in Tower Street, or at www.thenovium.org