RESIDENTS in Mather Street, Farnworth, have no excuse for missing out on the local news and gossip - thanks to the efforts of five local youngsters.

The children, aged eight to 15, have been producing regular copies of the Mather Street Magazine since the group got together earlier this year.

Information on crime, parties, sport and other activities taking place in the street have been combined with quiz competitions to make up the community-based project, which sells at least 35 copies each edition.

Ryan Robinson, Paul Hinks, Laura Hinks, Liz Bell and Scott Molloy do all the editing, reporting, typing, designing and photography themselves. The only help from parents comes when the main copy has to be printed out several times.

But the youngsters then take over the operation and deliver copies door-to-door in the terraced street

The team have been busy during half-term putting together Edition Four, which will be delivered to houses during June.

Co-editor Paul Hinks, who would like to be a sports reporter, said: "We came up with the idea after Laura got a typewriter at Christmas. "It's better than hanging around on the streets doing nothing. People who have talked to us have said they enjoy the magazine and think its good.

"Some people tell us things which we can put in the magazine, but we'd like more of them to get in touch with us."

Copies are sold for 50p to cover the production costs and generate a small profit which is split between the team as wages to top up their pocket money.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.