PUPILS at two primary schools in the east of the borough were visited by Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight today as part of their Aspirations week when youngsters are given information about career choices and opportunities and invited to quiz school visitors about their professions.

School visits such as this are a regular part of Nub News' role in the community and on a week celebrating inspiration and aspiration, Mr Speight was also delighted to share news that the news website has been honoured by being shortlisted in this year's national NewsAwards.

Thurrock Nub News is one of six shortlisted community-based news platforms across the country to be recognised by the media industry awards, which celebrate the best in UK news media print, technology and business innovation, with the possibility that a gala awards evening in London next month could see it take the top honour.

"It's a tremendous recognition of what Nubs News does and I am very grateful for the honour. To be seen as a key player in local community life is exactly what Nub News is all about and it was great that I have been able to share our good news by combining our success with the ambitions of the great young people I met today.

"It was wonderful to meet them and to take part in a presentation and workshop and then answer questions about the media industry. As usual at these events it was great to hear the sharp minds and quick thinking of our young people who hold the borough's future in their hands. They put me on the spot with some tricky questions!

"Well done also to the teachers and staff who support them so well".

This morning (Tuesday, 12 October) Mr Speight attended Stanford-le-Hope's Arthur Bugler Primary to meet year four and five pupils who have expressed an interest in the media and wanted to learn more about writing and what opportunities it might offer them as an eventual career choice.

And in the afternoon Mr Speight was quizzed by members of year six at Horndon on the Hill primary.

He concluded: "It is a real pleasure to go into local schools which really are at the heart of our local Thurrock communities and I hope that one day in the future we may see some of the young people I met today writing for Nub News and sharing their skills, aspirations and enthusiasm with our readers."