A regional daily’s bid to boost the job prospects of young people on its patch has smashed its target weeks ahead of deadline.

Newcastle daily The Journal originally set out to see 100 apprenticeships created by local businesses in 100 days.

However the target was swiftly raised to 500 after 214 apprenticeships were created in only three weeks.

Now the newspaper has broken even that milestone, with North-East businsesses finding places for 589 apprentices with five weeks still to go to the original campaign deadline.

The Journal’s campaign has been run in association with the National Apprenticeship Service and supported by the North East Chamber of Commerce.

It saw editor Brian Aitken swap roles for the day with a 20-year-old electrical engineering apprentice at Newcastle University’s School of Marine Science and Technology.

Said Brian: “We were knocked out when our initial target of 100 apprenticeships in 100 days was reached in under three weeks – so were increased the target to 500.

“That target has now also been smashed and it will be interesting to see just how many apprenticeships can be created by the end of the campaign at the end of April.”

John Wayman, regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service said: “We have been genuinely overwhelmed by the positive response to the campaign from North East employers.

“To have surpassed our aspirational 500 apprenticeships target is truly exceptional and well beyond our expectations.”