The Press Association is planning to launch a pilot project aimed at providing in-depth coverage of public bodies which are currently being under-reported.

MD Tony Watson today told a committee of MPs that the agency would "stick a bunch of reporters" into a public body in a bid to provide what he called "public service reporting".

Mr Watson said the agency was hoping to team up with publisher Trinity Mirror and start the pilot in the autumn while PA was currently in negotiation over independent funding.

He told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee: "Is there content out there around public institutions which is not getting into the media due to lack of resources?

"One way to do this is to stick a bunch of reporters into one of these institutions.

"Hopefully, Trinity Mirror has agreed to join us in the project, making their papers available in different areas.

"We will get a much better picture of the extent of this problem. We would not deploy our PA journalists into the project – we would recruit specifically for the project."

The revelation came as the committee discussed what Mr Watson called "public service reporting" – the coverage of bodies such as courts and councils at a local level.

He added: "Coverage of their activities is essential to the functions of a democracy.

"Yet, there are courts up and down the land where reporters are not covering these proceedings.

"People are being sent to prison without anybody being there to report the fact.

"There's no question that, because of pressure on resources, it is itself coming under pressure."

There could be new funding from plans to 'top-slice' the BBC licence fee for public service journalism projects such as PA's as part of the proposals set out in the recent Digital Britain report.

Mr Watson, a former Yorkshire Post editor, was giving evidence to the committee as part of its enquiry into the future of local media.

He also said: