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The Parliamentary Press Gallery is staging an essay competition for pupils in Years 10 to 13 to celebrate 200 years of parliamentary reporting.
It hopes to stimulate discussion about Parliament and politics by inviting students to write about a piece of legislation they would introduce or ways to encourage young people to vote.
Winners will get spend a day in the Commons. Further information can be found at www.parliamentarypressgallery.org.uk.


A cake sale organised by staff at the Colchester Evening Gazette has raised £200 for charity.
The event followed a head shave by some staff, to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation and Essex County Hospital’s radio therapy unit.
Reporters Julia Gregory and Clare Jeffs decided not to part with their locks, and opted to hold a bumper cake sale instead.
The two fundraising events were inspired by Gazette reporter Jeremy Price who is undergoing radiotherapy for a brain tumour.


The Gazette in Blackpool has become the latest business to boost the resort’s Illuminations Fund, with a donation of £1,000.
Blackpool Mayor Coun Mrs Lily Henderson received a cheque from the paper’s managing director, Philip Welsh.


The Liverpool Echo has played Cupid to Merseyside couple Lindsey Abbott and Jay Savory.
Jay popped the question on the front-page of the newspaper – and a stunned Lindsey said “yes”.
Jay decided to propose through the pages of the Echo as he is currently serving in the King’s Regiment in Iraq.


Pictures from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle archives are being featured in a new book from the paper’s Remember When supplements editor, Ray Marshall.
The 136-page book The Very Best of Remember When gives readers a trip down memory lane on Tyneside, with pictures including dance halls, people, old streets and people’s workplaces.


Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
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