Staff at the News & Star in Carlisle have been taking time out of the newsroom to give a helping hand to local charities.

Five editorial staff were given time off to work with a charity of their choice in order to emphasise the newspaper's links with the community as part of Local Newspaper Week.

Features writer Peter Edwards spent a day working in Carlisle's One World Centre and learning about fair-trade goods on sale there.

Reporter Julie Armstrong (above) mucked in at a local animal refuge where she helped clean out kennels and cared for a wide range of animals from horses to ferrets.

Deputy editor Nick Turner (below) helped out at a community garden which provides employment for adults with learning disabilities.

Editorial assistant David Richardson visited an Alzheimer's Day Care centre and sub editor Louise Green joined Age Concern in helping a pensioner to settle in her new home.

All the charities were also given a publicity boost, as they were featured in the News & Star.

Deputy editor Nick Turner said: "The charities were extremely pleased to get some extra help and publicity from our staff and hopefully our efforts underlined our reputation as a newspaper that cares about the local community.

"It was quite humbling to see what a huge difference the staff at the community gardens made to people's lives."