Aspiring journalist David Braithwaite gained valuable industry experience and topped up his air miles in one fell swoop - flying in from Australia to work at the Wolverhampton Express and Star.

He was told by his tutors at Monash University, Victoria, to spend a month working at an English-language newspaper.

But David looked a little further afield than simply searching down-under - and chose to spend his time in the Black Country, where his father's uncle used to freelance.

And the Express and Star was happy to take him on board.

David said he's enjoyed the experience - one highlight being sent to Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre to help cover the Peter Pan production's media day. There he met that most British of double acts, Cannon and Ball.

David previously had a stint at his local paper, the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, but found the Black Country press much more to his liking.

He said: "My paper's a very small weekly, Wolverhampton's a much bigger area with more happening.

"I'll be starting work in Australia, but if the opportunity arises I would seriously think about coming back."

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