More than 600 newspapers took part in this year's Local Newspaper Week, latest figures have shown.

The annual event, run by the Newspaper Society, attracted more support than ever before as titles took the opportunity of a little positive publicity and highlighted all that is good about the industry.

Newspapers took part in link-ups with National Lottery operator Camelot, and the charity ChildLine, and also focused on really local coverage, getting communities involved in the newspaper and bringing its team out to meet local people.

They also highlighted successful campaigns and explained the role of local newspapers as part of the week's theme, Closer to Home.

Among those to recap on the successes of the past year was the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and the Derbyshire Times - which also ran a competition to become a photographer for the day.

Meanwhile the Liverpool Echo had a new editor for the day, in the form of competition winner Michelle Greer, and the News & Star took on a new reporter - eight-year-old Jessica Law.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner editor Roy Wright also took part in an experiment, swapping jobs with a local pub landlord.

Lynne Anderson, communications director of the Newspaper Society, said: "I'm delighted that so many newspapers have taken part in this year's Local Newspaper Week.

"The regional press is an innovative and vibrant industry and this come through in the many creative ideas at work throughout the Week."