A scheme to open up a new route into newspapers for ethnic minority journalists is being launched by Trinity Mirror.

Two trainees every year will have the chance to train on a prestigious 16-week foundation course in Newcastle.

They will have three months of work experience at some of Britain's busiest newsrooms, including the Birmingham Evening Mail, Daily Mirror and the company's south east weeklies.

The pair will be working alongside trainees from across Trinity Mirror and be paid a training allowance during the course and for the work experience.

They will be chosen on the basis of an interview and story about someone from their community.

Regionals editorial director Neil Benson said: "The recent study by the Journalism Forum shows that only two per cent of journalists are from the black and Asian communities.

"This scheme is aimed at ensuring that our newsrooms reflect more closely the ethnic mix of the communities we serve."

The bursary scheme will be named after the former Trinity Mirror chief executive Philip Graf, this week awarded a CBE for services to regional newspapers.