YOUNG people in East Lancashire are second to none when it comes to making successes of themselves.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph often reports on their achievements.

Whether they are involved in fund-raising, making their community more pleasant or environmental projects, or have just battled to change their own lives, many have been featured in these pages.

To mark Local Newspaper Week, which focuses on the successes of young people aged from 14 to 30, and the achievements of youngsters in the area, we have put together a montage of some of the best projects and success stories from East Lancashire. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph regularly features articles written by young people in its Newspapers in Education column.

Thousands of youngsters and hundreds of teachers have already benefited from the NIE project. Schools, colleges and groups linked to the project are featured every Tuesday in the column, which also carries reports and articles from any young person with something of general interest to say.

Artist Paul Hartley, 25, of Hollin Hill, Trawden, is currently transforming a 150ft wall into a mural which has been designed by young people at Park High School, Colne, and youth group Subway.

Dozens of young people have put forward their designs for the mural, which forms the backdrop for the Millennium Green, off Bridge Street, Colne.

Pupils at Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, meanwhile have enjoyed a run of success with their firm Phoenix -- their entry in this year's Young Enterprise competition. They won 10 awards for their glass-painting business and made £11,800 from an initial outlay of £250. A donation of £250 was made to the Macmillan Nurses charity.

Two weeks ago the LET's Children of Courage awards named eight-year-old Craig Walsh as the most courageous child in East Lancashire. Doctors thought that Craig, of Henry Whalley Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, would not be able to walk or talk because of his cerebal palsy, but the St Peter's RC Junior School pupil wears plastic splints on both legs and has learned to make himself understood.

His dad, John, said: "Craig never complains about anything. He just gets on with his life."

Runner-up Gwyneth Dawson, 15, a pupil at St Hilda's High School in Burnley, was diagnosed with a brain tumour a year ago, after almost 12 months of tests and physiotherapy. She has never used her illness as an excuse to stay off school, or seek attention, but quietly sets an example to others.

Fund-raising Prince's Trust volunteers from Burnley and Pendle raised more than £700 for meningitis research when they pushed a canoe 96 miles from Blackpool to Colne.

Ongoing projects include peer educators from the anti-drugs Activate project, based at the Trinity Youth and Community Centre in Clitheroe.

For details of any aspect of our Newspapers in Education project, contact co-ordinator Rita Shaw on 01254 678678 ext 255.