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Facebook campaign pays off for freelance photographer

A freelance photographer who faced having his rolling contract with a local newspaper terminated will continue taking pictures for the title following a Facebook campaign.

Andrew Carpenter took photos for the Harborough and Lutterworth Mail for 20 years on a freelance basis but was told last month that his yearly rolling contract with the Johnston Press owned title may come to an end on 18 May.

A Facebook group called Reinstate Andrew Carpenter was quickly set up on his behalf calling for the paper to carry on using him.

It attracted more than 5,500 members and hundreds of messages of support with some suggesting boycotting the paper.

Andrew has now announced in a post to members of the social networking site group that he had signed a new contract with the Harborough Mail.

He wrote: “I won’t be working full time for the paper anymore but it does mean if the photographic staff based at Kettering can’t cover jobs in the Harborough and Lutterworth area then at least I hope they will call upon me to cover if the need arises.

“So I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their fantastic support in the last few weeks in getting me re-instated at the Harborough Mail and let’s hope they do use me on a regular basis.”

Andrew told HTFP: “I’m sure it’s got everything to do with the Facebook campaign.”

Last month he said the decision had come from ‘on high’ rather than the Mail itself.

On a Facebook post Andrew wrote: “Thanks again for all your wonderful support and encouragement it really has been tremendous and heart-warming I’m very touched by all your messages.”