AUTISTIC teenager Erika Winkley has reached the final of a national art competition.

Erika, 14, who attends Maidenhill School in Stonehouse, was shortlisted for both the poetry and digital animation category in the finals of CREATE! Art for Autism – a competition for 11 to 25 year olds with an autistic spectrum condition or Asperger syndrome.

This year the competition received 810 entries from across the UK and even as far afield as Florida.

Erika, whose favourite subjects are drama, music and English, was one of 55 finalists across the five categories – 2D art, 3D art, digital photography, digital animation and poetry.

"I found out about the competition through a special needs teacher at school and thought it was a great idea as there are many people with ASD diagnosis whose creative talents are overlooked," said Erika, who lives in Quedgeley with her mum, brother and grandmother.

"I decided to enter the poetry category as I have written quite a few poems and my English teacher said they were really good.

"My poem was called Free Will and was inspired by a religious studies lesson about the free will defence.

"For the digital category I entered a short animation combining the things I love – cartoons, cats and comedy. It was based on the worst thing that I thought might happen on my birthday."

Erika attended the awards ceremony at Beechwood College, in the Vale of Glamorgan, on Friday, July 19 but unfortunately did not win.

"I was disappointed but I really enjoyed showing off my talents and the ceremony was really amazing and I loved sharing it with my family," said Erika, who enjoys reading and going to the theatre.

Erika did receive a mug with her poem printed on it and another mug with a couple of frames from her animation. She also received a personalised bookmark and two £15 Amazon gift cards.