TWO budding young cartoonists from the York area have made it through to the semi-finals of a competition to find the nation's brightest comic strip creator.

James Smith, 11, from Wheldrake, and Jordan Took, 12, from Wigginton, York, have seen off hundreds of competitors to make it through to the final 15 of the northern heat, which will be held in Chester on August 5.

There they will learn the skills needed to be a top cartoonist, from experts from the Beano and the Dandy, and have the chance to submit a second cartoon as they compete for the ultimate title of UK's Best Young Cartoonist 2003.

To enter the competition, which is being run by drinks company Capri-Sun, James and Jordan had to create an original cartoon strip, which could feature anything "as long as it was silly". The overall winner of the competition will get the chance to see his or her creation rolling off the presses at the Beano and Dandy, as well as winning a state-of-the-art computer and drawing software, an original signed caricature of themselves with Dennis the Menace and Desperate Dan, £250-worth of artist's materials, and a year's supply of Capri-Sun drinks.

Updated: 08:52 Tuesday, July 29, 2003