Schoolchildren are to receive their local newspaper for six weeks as part of a regional publisher’s reading scheme.

The CN Group has announced its new Reading Passport initiative, which will see children across Cumbria aged between nine and 11 given copies of its newspapers as part of the project.

The papers involved are dailies The News and Star, Carlisle, and the North West Evening Mail, along with weekly titles the Cumberland News, Workington Times & Star and Whitehaven News.

A series of fun and educational activities using the papers will be set for the children across the forthcoming autumn school term.

David Helliwell, editor of the News & Star, said: “News is available in many forms today, be it through the pages of a newspaper or website, or via broadcasts on TV or radio. It is also a way that we discover and learn what is going on around us in the world.

“Therefore we hope that our partnership with the News Foundation not only encourages young children to develop a love of reading, but that it also helps them develop a growing knowledge and understanding of the world around them locally, nationally and internationally.”

He added: “Reading can be informative, inspiring, educational, exciting and fun. It is also an important part of our education and learning and we’re happy to play a part in helping offer support in this way to local schools and their pupils.”

The programme will cost £2 per pupil, and follows on from a similar scheme run by the Evening Mail in Barrow earlier this year.