Three journalists from a series of weekly newspaper in Yorkshire have taken up running to prepare for one of the country’s best known half-marathon.

Georgina Morris, Lauren Ballinger and Claire Armstrong, reporters at the Reporter Series Newspapers which includes the Dewsbury Reporter and the Batley and Birstall News, are currently in training for the Great North Run .

They will raise funds for Action For Children and are busy training at a local gym for the race which takes place in Newcastle in September.

They are also keeping a diary to keep readers up to date with their progress.

In her latest entry, Claire wrote:  “Getting a trio of reporters who can barely run for a bus to compete in a half marathon should be fairly eventful.

“On our first visit, we managed about five minutes on the treadmill, but now we’re four weeks in we’re doing quite a bit better.

Claire Armstrong in training for the Great North Run

“Saying that, I have noticed that while I can keep up with Georgina on the treadmill, when we’re out in the fresh air she ends up way ahead because her legs are at least twice as long as mine.

“I think to even things up, anyone shorter than say 5ft 4ins should be let off the last mile or two of the Great North Run. Or the lanky ones should have to run further.

“Not sure the organisers will go for it, but it’s worth a go.”

Action for Children is a charity that helps thousands of young people and children across the UK. It has five centres in North Kirklees which offer antenatal classes, parenting courses, help with returning to work, family trips and a wide range of play and activity sessions.

Money raised by the Reporter Series team will support the work of five centres in the newspapers’ circulation area.