Budding journalists tried their hand at being reporters for a day.

Twenty-three Year Eight pupils from Maltings Academy, in Spinks Lane, Witham enjoyed taking part in the BBC School Report challenge, along with 30,000 other children from over 1,000 schools across the UK who participated in the annual event.

The students raced to research, interview, write and upload their stories, on topics such as a feature on the International Space Station, the legacy of the Olympics and different hair styles, to the school’s website before the deadline of 4pm for the challenge, which was started eight years ago.

Michael Grant, of Witham, associate teacher at the school who ran the day, added: “I am really proud of all the students who took part in the day. They have come so far in what they have learnt about journalism and it is great to see the progress they have made.

“The students were really enthusiastic and positive about the day and we will definitely be participating in the event next year.”