A trio have been honoured by a family-run newspaper group after each notching up 25 years of service.

Assistant sales director Karagh Crane, director of editorial Matthew Salisbury and director of finance Ian McGahan celebrated their milestones at Bullivant Media, which owns 11 different Midlands titles.

Matthew, whose column appeared in the very first issue of the Leamington Observer in 1988, started out as a reporter before later going on to edit the Stratford Observer.

He has also worked as a sub-editor during his time with the group.

Karagh began working on the reception desk at the Redditch & Alcester Standard before moving into sales at various titles across the group.

And Ian’s association with owners Chris and Pat Bullivant began in 1982 when he was just 17 while working on the Birmingham Daily News.

The Bullivants paid tribute to the triumvirate during a lunchtime reception held in their honour last Thursday.

Pat said: “We are a truly local family firm, and consider ourselves so lucky to have recruited talented, hardworking professionals like Karagh, Ian and Matthew over 25 years ago and to have retained their friendship and commitment for all these years.

“They have truly led by example for which we are extremely grateful, and we sincerely thank them for joining us on this roller coaster of a ride those many years ago.

“Karagh, Ian and Matthew represent and lead some amazingly hard working folk, who whilst retaining their sense of fun and enthusiasm write, sell, produce and deliver our titles every week come rain or shine.”