Regional press reporter Jenny Clarke had a brain scan for work – to see how a new £1m machine worked at her local hospital.

It was part of an assignment for the Waltham Forest Guardian series and gave her an amazing insight into the wonders of modern medicine.

Although the experience was less daunting than if she was ill, Jenny (pictured left) still had a few pre-scan nerves, but was told there was a panic button to rescue her from the confined space – and a choice of soothing music while she had the five-minute scan.

She said: "I went along knowing I was going to get a scan of some sort.

"But when they asked me what I wanted to do I thought that pictures of the brain would look best."

Most patients don’t get the chance to see the results straight away, but in the interests of journalism the medical staff went through the pictures with her.

Jenny said: "It is a weird experience looking inside your own head. Especially if you’re prone to hypochondria.

"Lines, bulges and blobs gave the appearance of a somewhat shrivelled walnut.

"But part from the blocked sinuses everything looked fine

"And our photographer was pleased to note that reporters do have a brain after all."