HOME Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw is urging young people to spend more time with their grandparents.

Last month, the US Embassy and the Department for Education and Employment launched a national essay contest for all students, aged between 14 and 16, on the alliance between the two countries. The top prize is a trip to Washington DC.

Youngsters are being asked to interview their grandparents or others with personal wartime experiences to write essays on how the British-American relationship of that time affected their families, communities and the world.

Among the competition judges are director Steven Spielberg and Sir David Frost.

The contest is open until the end of July. For more details call 0207 499 9000.