BUDDING journalists had a chance to sharpen their skills when their school took part in a national media day.

Year eight pupils at Melbourn Village College were given a 2pm deadline to finalise a news report on some of the day's breaking stories last Thursday.

It was all part of the BBC's School Media Day, in which schools from around the country linked up with regional broadcasters to learn about journalism.

Kirstin Bicknell, arts development manager at the school, said: "The pupils split themselves into small groups and recorded the day's stories on audio and video.

"Getting them to work to a deadline and experiencing technical hiccups as they were uploading is something they had to overcome. I think it was hugely successful and they had an amazing time, especially as so many of our children have expressed an interest in journalism."

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire visited the school and even broadcasted some of the pupil's work, while former Melbourn pupil Georgina Bullen was interviewed about her call up to the British Paralympics goalball squad.