The South Wales Argus has been named the best in Britain thanks to its growing army of readers.

More than 2,100 new readers joined the Argus ranks every day last year and the paper has now been named Britain’s fastest-growing evening newspaper.

At the annual Newspaper Sales and Promotion Awards in Blackpool, organised by the Newspaper Society, the Argus took the award for the best overall evening newspaper base sale increase in the country.

Base sale refers to copies of the Argus actually bought by readers, excluding give-away or promotional copies.

The Newport-based Argus won the award for a sales increase during 2000 of 2.5 per cent, selling 679 more copies every day throughout the year.

And the Argus also won a second award for the best base sale increase during a six-monthly period. In the last six months of 2000, its sale soared by six per cent or 1,651 copies every day – more than 5,200 new readers every day.

And the Argus has started 2001 with sales four per cent up on last year’s award-winning figure.

Editor Gerry Keighley said: “This award proves what we have known for sometime – that in real terms the Argus is the fastest-growing regional newspaper in Britain.

“We have worked hard to produce a newspaper that really matters to the people of Gwent.

“And they have backed us by going out and buying the Argus in ever-increasing numbers.

“Our readers are the best in Britain – and they’ve got a paper to match.”

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