A news service covering stories on charities and the voluntary sector has delivered its 10,000th story.

The success of the service means that the milestone was reached earlier than anticipated, some seven months ahead of schedule.

Community Newswire, a joint initiative between the Press Association and the Media Trust, works to give charities and voluntary organisations a platform to get their voices heard in the media.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office Minister of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety said of the service: "Since its launch Newswire has provided an invaluable service for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups.

"As Newswire celebrates its 10,000th story, it continues to play an important role in reaching out to the voluntary sector and allowing it to engage with the media on a level playing field."

"The Newswire has opened up a fresh line of communication between the country's news desks and those at the grassroots of community life."

The service allows community groups to send press releases to a team of PA reporters who produce stories that are then sent out on the Press Association's regional news service.

It boosts charitable groups' contact with the media and provides journalists with a new source of stories, delivering them direct to the desktops of reporters at regional press and broadcast news organisations across England.

The service transmits on average 30 stories each day and 94 per cent of all submitted stories are developed. All the stories are published on the community newswire's website.

The service is proving to be a valuable tool to newsdesks. Ray Darcy of the Manchester Evening News said: "We often find stories that we have missed. It has definitely boosted our coverage of community stories."

PA's Tony Watson said: "The Community Newswire has proved to be an invaluable channel for community and voluntary groups seeking to get their voices heard."

Newswire manager Dominic O'Reilly said: "We've been talking to a lot of groups who say that they are much better at doing things than writing about them."

"Many of them don't have a press office or know how to deal with the press so their work goes unnoticed. Hopefully we can help give them some exposure.

"It will be totally free for the groups to go online, so they can't lose."