A community web project is proving a runaway success in Essex - with more than 200 groups signing up.

The Beehive is being run jointly by the Newsquest and Northcliffe newspaper groups. It is the only partnership of its kind in the country.

The project calls for non-profit making organisations to step forward and use the Internet to promote themselves and their activities for free.

It receives around 15,000 page impressions a week.

Groups can display contacts, events and news on their sites and update them whenever and wherever they like at beehive.thisisessex.co.uk.

The group that brought up the big 200 was the Essex Air Ambulance, which has been operation for the last two years.

Air Ambulance operations and appeals Manager Lee Gilham said the Beehive site gave the charity another way to keep the county informed.

Beehive editor Helen Anderson said they have high hopes for the Beehive project.

"Our aim is to get every non-profit group in the county on the network. We want the Beehive to be a complete list of all the clubs, churches, schools and charities in the county.

"Even groups who have web sites already should have Beehive link sites to guide people to their information."

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now - click here