'THE LITTLE Cloud', a children's book written and illustrated by Dartmoor prisoners, has won the Puffin Prize awarded by Penguin, the publishing company.

It was produced by eight prisoners in a class learning to read and write at the Princetown prison. They and other prisoners who won awards for writing donated their winnings of £230 to the BBC's Children in Need appeal.

Two groups won first prizes in the Koestler competition with their books 'Doctor Dolot's Dozen' and 'The Adventure of the Very Little Rabbit.'

Maureen Crosbie, an officer in the prison education department, organised the entries. Stuart Tibber, another education officer, said that Dartmoor usually did well in the Koestler awards and had maintained its good record. 'This success is a morale boost for the prisoners,' he said.