YOUNG journalists from a Hartlepool school have visited London after winning a top award.

Year six pupils from West View Primary School travelled to Westminster on Friday to receive their award, after beating off stiff competition from more than 2,500 schools.

The International Newsday competition, in conjunction with The Times Educational Supplement, asked the children to produce a newspaper in a day.

Their newspaper was called the West View Herald and included reports on the war in Iraq, and a problem page with Auntie Suzy.

Teacher Caroline Elton said: "The children all worked extremely hard. They researched all the stories themselves, carried out interviews and typed and edited their own articles.

"There was a lot of pressure on the day, but they excelled themselves and we are very proud of their achievements."

Brian Robinson, the national organiser of the competition, said: "The West View Herald was an exciting paper to read and the enthusiasm of the children came out in their writing."