PUPILS looking to gain an insight into life at a sixth form college have been given a helping hand by The Northern Echo.

This week and next, about 1,000 year ten pupils from feeder schools to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form, in Darlington, will spend a morning or afternoon at the college.

The aim is to give the pupils, from schools around Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and further afield, a chance to sample a number of lessons.

Art and design is one of the most popular courses and one of the activities the college had planned to offer was the making of paper sculptures.

However, the college could not collect enough old newspapers for the project until Dave Moss, transport and distribution manager for Newsquest North-East, The Northern Echo's parent company, stepped in.

Dave provided more than enough newspapers to cater for the art department's needs.

Queen Elizabeth's director of creative arts, Rita Smith, said: "Year ten visits are important in helping pupils to plan their future progression routes. Those who opt to sample art will design extravagant body sculptures out of paper.

"They will make wearable costumes which distort the body contours in various ways. It's an artistic way of recycling paper and I'm grateful for Newsquest's help in supplying old newspapers."