A four-page school newsletter provided a welcome sales boost for the paid-for Watford Observer, adding some 1,500 copies to its figures.

Students at St Michael’s School in Garston wrote stories and took photographs for the publication which was designed and laid-out by subs at Observer House.

The students visited the Observer to talk about paths into journalism, writing styles, researching stories and page design and reporters and subs have visited the school to address aspiring young journalists.

The sales boost came because the school ordered 1,500 copies of the Watford Observer which featured the supplement, The Word.

The newsletter followed a summer newsletter which realised an extra 800 sales.

The next stage of the partnership between the newspaper and the school will come during the spring term with plans to host a micro-site at www.watfordobserver.co.uk and for students at the school to record video clips showing them reading weekly news bulletins.