A journalist couple who met while working on local newspapers in Derbyshire have commissioned a special painting depicting scenes from their lives.

Tom Cooper, former editor of the Belper News, is due to marry Charlotte White, a former reporter at the weekly paper.

To mark the event they asked artist Bill Kirby, who specialises in painting life stories on canvas, to capture scenes from their lives.

Among the scenes depicted is the former Belper News office – now closed – where the couple first met.

Tom was editor of the Johnston Press-owned title from 2004 to 2006, at the same time as Charlotte was a reporter.

Charlotte also wrote for sister titles the Matlock Mercury and Ripley and Heanor News. The couple now live and work in London

Other scenes depicted in the painting will include Tom on the hockey field and Charlotte horse-riding.

Bill, who describes his pictures as ‘like Lowry but with more detail’ said: “No other painter does this. What I do can be hard work with the research and travelling to different places – but it’s very rewarding.”

The Market Place office of the Belper News closed earlier this year with its sole reporter relocated to the Ripley and Heanor News office five miles away.

Readers wanting to place an advert or tell their story at the Belper News office in the town are now greeted with a sign on the door stating ‘We have moved’, instructing them to go to the office in neighbouring Ripley.