A community press office - the first of its kind in the country - has opened at the Grimsby Telegraph.

Based in the paper's Cleethorpe Road building, the office offers support and guidance to communities. It publishes and distributes newsletters to more than 34,000 homes.

The £350,000 project is jointly funded by the Community Partnership for North East Lincolnshire, the European Regional Development Fund and the Grimsby Telegraph, and is seen as a key tool to kick start community-led regeneration in North East Lincolnshire.

It will benefit several communities including the West Marsh, East Marsh, Nunsthorpe, Grange and Crowland, Immingham, Cleethorpes North and Alexandra, Hainton and Heneage, and the Yarborough.

Nigel Lowther, assistant to the editor at the Telegraph, who is leading the project, said: "These communities are already producing newsletters quarterly, but now they will be doing it with our resources and expertise.

"The great thing about this project is that the communities themselves approached the Grimsby Telegraph and asked if we would like to get involved and help out.

"We are absolutely delighted to be part of such an initiative.

"Each community decides on the content of the newsletter and the Grimsby Telegraph will function as the advisor.

"The contents will be written by the community for the community.

"It will make a real difference because it will improve the confidence, self-esteem and skills of the individuals who get on board and use this facility and will positively promote the communities."

The project has created two new posts. Claire Suddaby, an experienced journalist, will be the community press office manager, and Gillian Kapka is the community press office field advisor.

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