The company that produces four Westcountry daily newspapers has been awarded a top printing honour.

Westcountry Publications' print division, Westcountry Design and Print, has gained membership of the International Newspaper Colour Quality Club run by publishing industry organisation IFRA.

The group, which prints the Torquay Herald Express, Exeter Express and Echo, Plymouth Evening Herald and Western Morning News, was the only company in the UK regional press to make the grade, with the Daily Mirror also gaining membership.

Hundreds of newspapers from more than 30 different countries applied for membership of the club with only 50 meeting the standard.

Torquay Herald Express editor Brendan Hanrahan said: "This fabulous world-class award is great news for readers and advertisers, proving how much we strive to give them the very best we can six days a week.

Westcountry Design and Print managing director Tony Grabham said: "This is wonderful news, IFRA Colour Club membership is the Oscars of the newspaper printing industry and everyone at Design and Print has worked so hard to achieve this.

"It demonstrates to our daily newspaper customers our total commitment to providing the quality which their readers and advertisers deserve and expect.

"It also helps tremendously in attracting other contracts to our presses from further afield - both newspapers and other commercial newspaper and magazine work."

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