Journalism students at the University of Central Lancashire are being given the chance to get their work published in the regional press, with the launch of their own weekly page in the Lancashire Evening Post.

The university's Department of Journalism has teamed up with the Preston-based newspaper in a move which it is hoped will boost sales, while allowing some of the department's 800 journalism students to see their work is a 'real' newspaper.

The first edition of Studentstoday was launched on October 26, and will appear in the paper every Tuesday.

It follows the launch of the website www.studentstoday.co.uk by the newspaper, and copy from the students' page will appear on the website along with listings and other useful information.

The students' page is being co-ordinated by journalism lecturer Kate Jenner, who had worked at the Evening Post as a sub-editor before joining the department in August.

Kate said: "We've had two pages appear so far and have had a lot of support from students who have been coming forward with stories.

"It tends to be student oriented but they can write about anything that has a local hook.

"The students bring their stories to me and we have a surgery every Tuesday. I will then sub it to correct any obvious howlers.

"We've had some really good stuff so far and the aim is to keep it running all year round."

The venture also allows students to experience life in a working newsroom, and one of the stories submitted has already been 'pinched' for use as a page lead elsewhere in the paper.

Evening Post assistant editor Mike Hill said: "There are 40,000 students in Preston, a lot of whom have come here from elsewhere and would not naturally buy the paper.

"There is a lot happening to write about and it seemed sensible to launch a page like this. It is one of those 'why didn't we think of it before' ideas.

"It is also a good way of forging links with the university and there is a lot of fledgeling journalism talent on our doorstep so it's a win-win situation."