HUNDREDS of youngsters are being offered a chance to brush up their media and communication skills.

Up to 20 schools across the North-East have booked a place on the Media Techniques training day at St John's College, Durham City.

Students will get a chance to record a radio broadcast, write a press release and do a mock TV interview.

Rob Marshall, public relations consultant at the college's Centre for Christian Communication, said: "To-day's generation are surrounded by all forms of media. The day is aimed at giving them confidence."

Schools from Carlisle, Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle have booked so far, as well as one school in London