The winner of an international creative writing prize has encouraged other storytellers to keep going after “endless rejection” had left her close to giving up.

Ruth Bushi, 49, who lives in Carlisle, won this year’s Bridport Prize in the short story category for her entry The Honeymoon, ahead of thousands of submissions from around the world.

Ms Bushi has been writing stories her whole life but said “there comes a point where you start to wonder if you’re wasting your time, or that you’re too old”.

“Writing can be a very lonely business, and getting published can feel like a closed shop, but I’m determined to keep writing now,” she said.

The Bridport Prize was founded in 1953 and has become one of the most well known creative writing competitions.

Former winners include Kate Atkinson and Kit de Waal.

Ms Bushi’s entry was about two colleagues who smuggle a small boy across a war-torn country.

Judges said it was a “sly examination of those who call themselves heroes, and the real human cost”.

Ms Bushi said she had decided Bridport would be her last effort after “countless rejections” by other competitions.

“Struggling to put words on paper, finding the time, battling the doubts, the endless rejection: none of it is easy,” she said.

The winners of the flash fiction, short story, poetry and novel categories were announced last weekend, sharing a prize pot of £20,000.

“I feel incredibly grateful, and urge any discouraged writers out there to keep going,” Ms Bushi said.

“No-one is more shocked than me to have won – and it almost never happened.”

Programme manager for the Bridport Prize Kate Wilson said one of the goals of the competition was to discover new writing talent.

“Winning the competition has been a stepping stone for many writers who have gone on to get published and have successful careers,” she said.