A literacy scheme for schoolchildren set up by a weekly newspaper is going from strength to strength.

The fifth wave of Reading Together has been launched by the Newham Recorder.

The scheme was piloted in spring 2000 but has proved a bigger hit than expected, with hundreds of children reaping the benefit of working with their local paper.

Pupils use the Newham Recorder to complete educational activities from workbooks based on the National Literacy Strategy.

As well as boosting literacy skills, Reading Together encourages nine and 10-year-olds to find reading more interesting and fun, to get their whole families involved and make them more aware of what is happening in their area.

And co-ordinator Susan Smith said it could also bring out the newshound in them.

She said: "Intrepid young reporter Ashley Ferguson certainly looks set for a glittering career in the media world.

"In her first effort at being a junior reporter, she displayed all the attributes needed to be a top journalist... while the recorder team was tucked up in bed."

After getting no reply from the paper's newsdesk number in the early hours of the morning, she picked up her Recorder Reporter badge and covered a car crash near her home, watching the drama unfold for almost two hours.

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