Hold the front page.

Pupils from schools in Colchester may soon be giving our partner papers a run for their money as they sampled a taste of the newspaper business.

At Thomas, Lord Audley tight deadlines and teamwork were required to get the Griffin rolling off the presses - or computer screen - in time for a competition run by a national educational supplement.

Today, 17 pupils at the school in Monkwick Avenue, put aside maths books and science equipment to take on the roles of editor, sub-editors, reporters, photographers and production assistants.

Sarah Byham and Dominic Howkins are the two teachers behind this year's paper.

"Things have been quite calm this morning, but they will become increasingly fraught as we approach the deadline," said Mrs Byham.

"Several hundred schools take part and all are provided with information to produce a newspaper on the day. It has to be sent off in the 5.30pm post."

The paper has to be a mix of up-to-the-minute national, international, local and school news - with a story about plans for a new school drama block vying for a place on the front page.

In previous years, the school has won awards in the competition and, despite having last minute problems with their digital camera, this today's team of budding newshounds are certainly hoping to follow in their footsteps.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.