Regional newspaper staff around the country are promoting their profession among the young – by getting into schools to explain what makes their job so special.

The next generation of journalists is being inspired by creative lessons – and the input from local newspaper staff.

The sheer enthusiasm of class 3B at North Primary School in Southall about a day when they were asked to cover the Second World War as reporters prompted the teachers to invite Ealing Times journalist Ushma Mistry to meet the pupils.

The class had prepared questions for their visitor and got to find out how a newspaper is made.

The Times even put together a mock-up front page about class 3B for the school to keep as a souvenir.

Epping Forest Guardian chief reporter Pete Henshaw is helping 14 pupils at Moreton primary with their newspaper project Moreton's Young Editors.

Questions he fielded from the group on his last visit included how to find and write stories, who makes up the headlines and what makes a good picture.

The Hartlepool Mail has joined up with Hartlepool United FC and children from several schools to design newspaper front pages.

Mail deputy editor Brian Nuttney gave a talk on key points, before inviting the children back to tour the paper's offices and see how it's done for real.

Glasgow Extra reporter Laura Coventry visited St Cadoc's school to give advice to the youngsters on making their own newspaper.

She was responding to a plea from one of the seven-year-olds making the paper, which will be available from the school, shops and libraries in the area.

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