Staff at the Islington Gazette are preparing to celebrate the paper's 150th birthday.

The paper - believed to be the oldest surviving local weekly paper in north London - was first published on September 20, 1856.

And to mark the milestone past and present staff are due to gather for a special reception at the Hilton Hotel in Upper Street in Islington on Thursday.

They will be joined by the mayor of Islington, MPs and other local dignitaries.

A commemorative supplement is also being put together for next week's edition, which will look back at the history of the paper and Islington itself, and tell how both have changed over the years.