A group of former regional press staff who started their own company after being made redundant have launched their third publication this year.

HTFP reported in January how David Lee-Birch and Tracy Leonard set up Oswestry Life after losing their jobs at Shropshire Review magazine, when its parent company Reviewmedia Ltd went into voluntary liquidation.

The pair’s company DTS Media has since started a sister title to Oswestry Life called It’s Beautiful, and is now launching a Bridgnorth ‘Guide to Local Connections’.

It is the first of a series of annual directories to be published across Shropshire and will be delivered to every home in and around Bridgnorth by Royal Mail later this month.

David previously worked as a business manager at the Midland News Association, where he helped launch the Oswestry and Border Chronicle in 2011 alongside editor Jon Simcock, while Tracy worked at the Shropshire Star for 11 years, ending her time there as advertising manager on the Newport Advertiser and the Market Drayton Advertiser.

Said David: “We are truly overwhelmed by the response and success of both magazines in such a short amount of time.

“‘The Guide to Local Connections’ fits perfect into the business model of supporting local business and providing informative content to our readers.”

Tracy added: “2018 looks set to be an equally exciting year of growth and expansion with new products planned in both print and digital.”