TWO new judges have been appointed to the Walter Scott Prize 2025 panel.

The chair of judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has announced the addition of Rosamund de la Hey, who is based in St Boswells, and Rosi Byard-Jones to the judging panel.

Rosamund de la Hey, previously the children's marketing director at Bloomsbury Publishing, played a role in the success of several books, including J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

She and her husband, Bill, established The Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells in 2008.

The shop has since gained national recognition, winning awards such as Independent Bookshop of the Year and Britain’s Best Small Shop.

Ms de la Hey said: "I am delighted and honoured to join the judging panel for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

"I have admired the prize since its inception and enjoyed following the shortlist with our Mainstreet Book Group over the years."

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction was first awarded in 2010 and is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the UK.

It honours the creator of the historical fiction genre, Sir Walter Scott.

The prize, managed by The Abbotsford Trust with the support of the Hawthornden Foundation, awards the winner £25,000 and each shortlisted author £1,500.

Joining her on the panel is Rosi Byard-Jones, one of the inaugural winners of the Young Walter Scott Prize.

Ms Byard-Jones studied Japanese at SOAS University of London and completed a master's degree at the University of Cambridge, focusing on Korean minority women’s literature in Japan.

She now plays a key role at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham.

Ms Byard-Jones said: "As a devotee of historical fiction, I am extremely honoured to join the Walter Scott Prize panel this year.

"I am also thrilled to continue my role as a judge for the Young Walter Scott Prize, which has played such a formative role in my life since I was 17."

Chair of judges, Katie Grant, said: "As chair of judges of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction it’s a great pleasure to welcome onto our panel Rosamund de la Hey of the wonderful Mainstreet Trading Company which has books at its heart, and Rosi Byard-Jones who won the Young Walter Scott Prize in 2015, and has been involved in judging the young writing prize in recent years."