A law firm is stumping up to help the legal talent of the future.

Ward Hadaway in Newcastle has awarded annual bursaries of £1,500 each to six Durham University law students. They also get a month's paid work experience and can progress to the second stage of the selection process for a full-time training contract.

This year, first-year undergraduates Andrew Crammond and Leanne Conway, both from Newcastle, received their first annual cheques at a lunch. They were joined by second-year students Louise Graham, of Darlington, and Robbie Cross, of Middlesbrough, and final-year student Laura Tweedy, from Boldon, South Tyneside.

Ms Tweedy said: "It's not only the financial support that the bursary brings which makes a difference. The opportunity to do work experience at a large commercial law firm is fantastic."