The Royston Crow is celebrating its 150th birthday.

The newspaper, which covers parts of North Hertfordshire, South Cambridgeshire and East Hertfordshire, first hit the streets on January 1, 1855, and its milestone has attracted the attention of both royalty and MPs.

Editor Les Baker (pictured) received letters of congratulations from The Queen and the Prince of Wales.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Opposition leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy also sent their best wishes to the Archant-owned paper, in letters which also heralded the importance of the local press.

Les said: "To be editor of the Crow as it became 150 years is, indeed, a proud moment.

"For a newspaper to reach a century-and-a-half of publication is a marvellous achievement and sees the Crow, quite rightly, join the ranks of the well-established papers in the country.

"The Crow has reached 150 years because in its early days there were people with a vision and over preceding years there was a determination and enthusiasm to see the paper succeed."

As part of The Crow's celebrations the paper published its letters of congratulations in full in its anniversary edition, and also took a look back at how the paper was started.

A commemorative supplement or pull-out is also planned, and a reception to thank supporters around the paper's circulation area will be held later in the year.