A council's website is carrying its own "What the papers don't say column to set the record straight when it feels the local press has got it wrong.

Camden Council, in London, is using the device to help ensure the right message goes out about its services.

The column began two weeks ago and carries two "corrections" after stories were printed in the Camden New Journal which it believed weren't up to scratch.

Following an item about annual elections to a new executive committee of the council, the council's head of press and PR wrote: "Reporter Lee Gordon has used more than a little journalistic licence in interpreting proposals to Camden's policy development committee suggesting that executive councillors could not be removed once in office, although in reality if they lost the confidence of colleagues they would almost certainly resign."

And following an item about a redevelopment in Swiss Cottage, the website read: "The CNJ claims that opponents of the £49m Swiss Cottage redevelopment are in a 'race against time' to mount a legal challenge as 'demolition equipment' is already being moved on site. In fact, this is bore hole equipment which will be carrying out a soil survey."

It set the record straight on several other points in the story.

Mr Gladwin told HoldtheFrontPage: "One of my jobs is to carry out a communications audit to see if Camden is an authority which is getting its message across.

"As part of that we thought we would try an online version of an EU idea carried out several years ago - also called 'What the papers don't say' - answering allegations going around at the time, including bizarre stories about regulations on straight bananas and so on.

"It's not to contradict stories in the newspapers but to put inaccuracies right."

He said the authority was unlikely to approach the Press Complaints Commission, which it saw as a last resort. Usually the press office would contact the reporter involved, in the first instance, then the editor in an effort to correct any errors.

Eric Gordon, editor of the Camden New Journal, said: "They are using this device to seize on any little mistake and embellish it.

"The could put it in our letters column. It's open to all and we've never spiked a letter from a councillor or official and carry them every week.

"It may not be a coincidence that we are the first two items on their new service - we are currently pursuing the council through the district auditor over a 'best value' decision it took to withdraw public notice advertising from our newspaper."

However, Mr Gladwin believes the idea may already be working - already, last week's editions of the local press were the first in "a long time" not to contain any errors regarding the council and its activity.

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