A centre that brings the world of newspapers to school children has seen its 25,000th pupil pass through the doors.

The News at Portsmouth has been welcoming school trips for some 14 years but has more to offer than most papers.

There is a purpose-built classroom decked out with computers so children can write and design a page of the newspaper for themselves.

The innovative project is funded by Portsmouth Publishing and Printing, part of the Johnston Press group, and employs an education services manager, former teacher Jeff Legg.

He presented nine-year-old Harley Butcher with a book to mark him being the 25,000th person to use the Newspapers in Education facility at The News Centre.

PICTURE: Courtesy of 'The News', Portsmouth

Jeff said that some 40 schools from around the Hampshire area visited the centre, with many returning each year.

He said: "It's a key element for their National Curriculum and we can tailor what they do here to art, IT or even helping with their school magazine.

"We take pupils from eight years old up to the first year of college.

"It is a chance for children to see a real newspaper in action and brings lessons to life for them. We get pupils to work as journalists so they know what it is like to work in the industry."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk