Tristram Wootton, who runs Keymer News in Keymer, has plenty of vacancies but can't find enough people to do his eight rounds.

He said: "I don't know what it is. Perhaps they're given more pocket money nowadays and don't want to get up early. Years ago there used to be a waiting list and when I took over 11 years ago there were at least one or two people on the list."

Tristram does at least three of the rounds himself as well as sorting the newspapers into bags. He said: "I now have two people who help me sort the papers, which means I can leave them to finish off and man the shop while I go out to do the rounds. It takes half an hour to an hour to sort the papers and all the rounds I do take a couple of hours."

Tristram also delivers most of the papers himself at weekends because the supplements are so heavy.

Newspaper deliverers have to be at least 13-years-old, but age is no barrier. Tristram has three willing pensioners who help him unload the newspaper delivery van, when it arrives at about 6am, in exchange for a free newspaper each.

Perhaps I should confess, I also arrive at 6am to do a round for Tristram three mornings per week before starting work at the Mid Sussex Times as part of the reporting team. I started off occasionally filling in for my daughter Hannah when she was away and took over from her 18 months ago.

I do the 'scenic route', which involves a cycle ride up to Oldland Mill and out towards Burgess Hill. The ride is just short of four miles in all and cycling along with the sun peeping over the Downs and sheep quietly grazing beats pounding on a treadmill at the gym, facing a wall.

On cold, wet mornings I do not have a spring in my step when the alarm clock goes off at 5.45am but I do have the satisfaction of knowing that when I come to work and turn into an instant couch potato in front of my computer screen I have already done 40 minutes of exercise.

Fellow Mid Sussex Times reporter Phil Dennett is another seasoned newspaper deliverer. It is years since he last hauled a newspaper bag over his shoulder but he still has vivid memories of his days as a paper boy.

He said: "When I was a child it was a case of get out and do a paper round or have no cash for records or watching the Albion. There was no such thing as pocket money in our house or many others for that matter.
"I had my first early morning round at 11-years-old, starting at 6am and often did an evening paper round as well after school.

"My mother always drummed it into me that I had to turn up on time whatever the weather, but I did have a terrible time getting up on cold, dark mornings in the winter."

Tristram at Keymer News pays between £15 and £20 per week. You can choose the days you work on a part-time or weekly basis and if, like me, you are way beyond 13, remember: doing a paper round is cheaper than the gym.

If you would like to volunteer for a round, please call Tristram on (01273) 843204.