Two budding broadcasters gave the Recorder a run for its money when they interviewed Suzi Quatro as part of a council-funded youth project.

Eliot Hocking, 17, asked the rock legend about youth culture and the importance of community events like the Havering Show, while Ciaran Puxley, also 17, filmed the discussion using professional kit.

The pair are taking part in a media training project at Havering Council’s Myplace community centre in Harold Hill. The project aims to make young people more confident and employable.

Eliot, Ciaran and a group of other teenagers from the project spent Monday interviewing members of the public at the Havering Show and capturing the results on film.

The final video will be presented to local employers to show off the youngsters’ media skills.

“It was interesting,” said Eliot. “Interviewing Suzi Quatro was obviously an experience unlike any other. It felt like it was very important to the project because it gives it a bit more star status.

“It seems to us that a lot of young people don’t have many opportunities and have a very negative view in society. We’re just trying to promote young people in a positive way.”

Youth project coordinator Olly Akanwo said she hoped the work would help young people value themselves more.

“It’s all about capturing a positive youth image,” she told the Recorder. “We’ve been giving them training and getting them to identify within themselves assets that are appealing to employers.

“We want to highlight that young people are responsible, communicators, leaders, trustworthy – all the things employers look for.”