Freelance photographer Dan Westwell has pleaded not guilty of a Section 5 public order offence at Mansfield Magistrates court and had his hearing adjourned until March 26.

The Sunderland Echo’s hard-hitting campaign calling for new laws to protect 999 workers from attacks by thugs has received praise from the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw.
The Government backed the bid early last year through the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Bill, but official orders have not yet been made to make the law active.
Mr Straw said he would do what he could to bring the law on line as soon as possible.

The Daily Post was among several companies to be honoured for work to encourage closer links between the worlds of art and business in North Wales.
The paper has received a certificate to mark a partnership project it was involved with to encourage greater arts education, and participation in an exhibition to mark the Post’s 150th anniversary.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove has praised the Advertiser’s Time to Change campaign in the House of Commons.
The campaign highlights what readers can do to prevent global warming, explain the issues and give ideas on how they can make a difference.

A jogging journalist who took part in a half marathon in memory of her grandmother has raised more than £2,500 for the newspaper’s charity of the year, Isabel Hospice.
Welwyn and Hatfield Times reporter Emma Reeves raised £1,291 in the Great North Run, a sum which was doubled by her employers through its charity scheme.

The Press & Journal in Aberdeen has launched a year-long fundraising marathon to raise more than £500,000 for a range of causes with the help of its readers.
The stars of TV’s Emmerdale teamed up with the paper to launch the Year of Giving, a bid to ensure smaller charities don’t miss out by asking readers to nominate good causes to support.