The Newham Recorder's mascot Scoopy was a hit with the youngsters as the paper launched a ground-breaking literacy project for schoolchildren.

Publishing director Paul Gregory was the man behind the mask and proved he was top dog at the grand launch of the latest wave of Reading Together.

The scheme has already proved a success in the East London borough since its introduction in March last year.

Paul helped launch the project at five more primary schools, and met the children, who gave him hugs, cheers - and plenty of pokes, prods, and tail-pulling.

Scoopy proved a popular new recruit to the launch team, even upstaging Reading Together co-ordinator and Recorder reporter Susan Smith, and the Recorder's antique van "Betsy".

The pupils were given black briefcase-like packs containing all they needed to become official Recorder reporters - including notebooks, pens, press badges, and more, as well as their workbooks, and copies of the Newham Recorder to work from.

Around 160 more nine and ten-year-olds are now taking part in the fun and very educational literacy programme already experienced by pupils at 16 of the borough's schools.

It aims to boost their literacy, help them find reading more interesting and fun and get whole families involved in their learning, as well as encouraging their interest in current affairs and the community.

Their articles on a wide range of issues have been pouring in to the Recorder's news team and published in the paper.

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