The parent company of the Sunderland Echo is helping launch a new free magazine aimed at young people on part of its patch.

Spark Sunderland was set by the media department at Sunderland University as a community media project run by volunteers and students from around the city.

It already includes a radio station called Spark FM and a monthly eMagazine.

Now the project is branching out into print with help from Echo publisher Northeast Press.

In an innovative partnership, Northeast Press is to cover the printing costs of the new title and will also be responsible for selling advertising.

Any profits will be retained by Northeast Press, a division of Johnston Press, as Spark itself is a not-for-profit organisation.

The magazine will have an initial print run of 6,000 copies and sill distributed in and around the city, including the university, cafes, community venues and colleges.

The first print issue will be launched to coincide with the Sunderland International Airshow, which starts on 20 July.

Editor Christopher Smith said: “It’s fantastic to be able to extend the Spark brand into print.

“It’s a great opportunity to produce a real youth-targeted publication that builds on our online success with the magazine to date.

Mike Wardley, Media Sales Manager at Northeast Press, added: “This is a very exciting opportunity for us and we are thrilled to work with everybody involved with Spark, and to have the opportunity to create a fantastic new product that is solely going to be aimed at the students and young people of Sunderland.”