A TEENAGER got the chance to shadow the editor of The Northern Echo for a day after winning an essay writing competition.

Catherine Llewellyn, from Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, collected the prize for her a piece on her hero, war correspondent John Pilger.

The competition was open to all Darlington schools, and aimed to encourage creativity among pupils.

Catherine, 14, spent a day at The Northern Echo's head office in Priestgate, Darlington, attending news conferences with editor Peter Barron and checking stories for the following day's edition.

She said: "I found it a very good day and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the editor's job."

Mr Barron said: "Catherine did very well, I hope she was inspired to pursue a career in journalism and, who knows, she could go on to become an editor herself one day.