NEXT week – Monday, May 14, to Sunday, May 20 – is Local Newspaper Week (LNW).

That gives the Review – part of the family-owned, totally independent Tindle Newspapers – the opportunity to renew our pledge to support our towns, villages and communities and to ensure that our readers can rely on us to speak up when the need arises.

LNW’s Making a Difference theme highlights the real power of local newspaper campaigning.

News Media Association deputy chief executive Lynne Anderson said: “Earlier this year, YouGov research showed that local newspapers are three times more trusted for local news and information than social media platforms.

“LNW celebrates local newspapers’ long history of producing fact-checked journalism which readers can rely on,” she added.

“Making a Difference highlights the powerful campaigning work of local newspapers in delivering real change for people and communities across the UK.”

This is a time when we can thank you, our readers and advertisers, for all you have done for our communities over the past year and before.

Your efforts are always greatly appreciated and we want you to know that we are right behind you.

We are fortunate in being able to say that throughout this period of austerity and political change, our readers and traders have continued to support our towns and our charities.

Local businesses rely so much on local support and we are glad to say that once again this has been there.

‘Making a Difference’ highlights the power of local newspapers to campaign for positive change in the communities they serve, with trustworthy local journalism.