A marine biologist is swapping the study of sea life for journalism after landing an apprenticeship at a regional daily.

Darcie Rawlings, pictured,  has joined the Northern Echo to cover community news in her hometown of Consett along with major regional cultural events including music, comedy and restaurant reviews.

Darcie, who comes from a low-income, single-parent household, graduated from Newcastle University before switching vocations.

She enrolled on the NCTJ journalism course at Darlington College and received financial support worth more than £4,000 from the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ Journalism Diversity Fund.

Darcie, 23, said: “I’m covering the area I grew up in and, working closely within the community, it has suddenly hit me that the public now reads my work.

“I feel a huge responsibility in terms of accuracy and fairness, as well as the time pressures of working to deadlines, but the support I have access to from The Northern Echo is invaluable.

“I just wrote a piece on a knit and natter charity group in Stanley, who are doing some amazing work around the world, including sending knits to Ukraine. I had some lovely feedback from the group which said the article had attracted new members.

“It’s little things like this that spur me on as well as the fun aspect of covering major events.”

Darlington College journalism programme leader Sue Calvert added: “Darcie thoroughly deserves this big break.

“Her enthusiasm for news is boundless and she will thrive, I am sure.”