A North West weekly has moved into a new home in the the town it serves after speculation closure of its former office would result in staff being based 13 miles away.

As originally reported by HTFP in July, publisher Johnston Press has closed the office of the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times with staff waving a final farewell to the King Street premises on Thursday.

Some had feared the closure would could lead to the paper being managed from out of town with journalists based 13 miles away at its sister title the Burnley Express.

However it has now emerged that the paper will be staying in the town with staff moving into a new base at Fern Court, just a few hundred yards from its former home.

Reporter Faiza Afzaal, who began there as a trainee reporter in 2003, wrote on the paper’s website: “Over the years we have had some good times here, worked with wonderful people who have either left for pastures new, or retired.

“One of the memorable times for the team was when the newspaper switched from broadsheet to the current tabloid format in 2004 – a move which was followed by a record sale for the paper in it first week as a tabloid.

“There is a lot of history here, but unfortunately the building is no longer fit for purpose. While there is a bit of nostalgia about leaving the old office, the good news is that news team is staying in Clitheroe.

“So, it’s a fond farewell to the King Street office as we turn a new page in the illustrious history of The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times.”

The move across town bucks the trend of other recent office closures at JP titles such as the Hemel Hempstead Gazette, Harborough Mail and Skegness Standard – which have seen reporters become ‘officeless’ by being based out and about rather than in a physical newsroom on their patch following the decision to sell their bases.