A regional daily has been honoured by the government for its support of the Armed Forces.

The Sentinel, Stoke, has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award.

The accolade is given out by the Ministry of Defence to employers who have signed the armed forces covenant, which pledges to treat those who have served and their families fairly, as well as demonstrating and communicating “supportive behaviour”.

Over the years, Sentinel reporters and photographers have visited soldiers in war zones such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

An archive photo of soldiers reading The Sentinel during the First World War

The newspaper has also helped with appeals for troops on the front line, setting up messaging services and helping to arrange deliveries of supply packages.

The Sentinel also successfully campaigned to save the name of the Staffordshire Regiment in 2010, after the battalion was removed from the Order of Battle as part of government cuts.

The regimental name was retained within the merged Mercian Regiment (Cheshires, Worcesters and Foresters, and Staffords).

Sentinel editor Martin Tideswell said: “I am delighted that our company, and in particular, our newsroom has been recognised for its commitment to the armed forces and local men and women who have served, and continue to serve, their country.

“At The Sentinel, we are extremely proud of our links with the military. We have covered the exploits of local units since the Zulu Wars of the 1870s and our links remain strong.

“Through campaigns and events, we remain a champion of our local armed forces personnel – something our journalists feel very passionate about.”