Local Newspaper Week is to have a sporting theme with papers across the country being invited to promote community sport and budding Olympic athletes from their patch.

The Newspaper Society is again linking up with The National Lottery to organise the event, which runs from May 8-14.

It gives regional newspapers the chance to celebrate their community role.

It also presents papers with an opportunity to promote themselves to readers and advertisers.

Press packs featuring case studies on local sporting talent are being sent to all evening, morning and weekly local newspaper editors and sales managers.

The packs will also have details on how to run a competition inviting people to be a sports journalist or photographer for the day - and include ideas, graphics, regional contacts and editorial content for the week.

Newspaper Society communications director Lynne Anderson said: "It is the one time when the industry gets the chance to remind readers about the great work it does throughout the year.

"Regional newspapers are read by 83.6 per cent of UK adults, and are an essential contributor to regional identity.

"In short, the regional press is the first point of contact for many people wanting to keep in touch with what’s going on locally."

Yorkshire Evening Post editor Neil Hodgkinson said: "Local Newspaper Week is important for three reasons. Firstly, it acts as a reminder to journalists of the essential need to engage with readers and their communities.

"Secondly, it allows readers to interact with the newspaper helping to build up a mutual trust and understanding that can only benefit the newspaper's links with the area it serves.

"And thirdly, it does offer a (hopefully) subtle opportunity to promote the campaigns and community events the newspaper supports."