A FORMER Messenger paper girl from Sale has scored a job with a leading newspaper distributor.

Angela Sproston, now 24, was a paper girl for five years and has since gone on to become one of three candidates selected for a Smiths News graduate scheme.

Angela, a former Altrincham Girls Grammar School pupil, beat stiff competition to secure the traineeship with the wholesaler that delivers more than 59m publications to 23,000 people each week.

At 16, Angela undertook a World Challenge Expedition to Brazil after raising £3,000 to work with children in the shanty towns there and recently she led poacher patrols in Costa Rica to protect endangered turtles.

In her last academic year Angela qualified as a barrister and said: “This experience sharpened my negotiation skills and took my drive and determination to the next level.”

As part of the Smiths News scheme Angela has just completed her first six-month placement in the corporate development team and will spend the next few months on the operations team before looking at the commercial side of the business.

Angela added: “Working for the dominant player in the newspaper and magazine distribution sector brings exciting challenges every day. I knew from an early age I wanted a career, not just a job. I have definitely found that.”