The Ilkeston Advertiser has celebrated its 125th birthday.

Staff at the weekly paper marked the occasion with a party at its Heanor Road offices, where they were joined by local dignitaries and advertising customers.

During the event guests toasted the success of the paper and heard messages of congratulation from former editors, before tucking into a buffet and birthday cake.

Wilfred Edmunds MD David Edmonson (second left), welcomes civic dignitaries to the celebrations

Flowers and specially-made commemorative glasses were also presented to guests.

And old issues of the Advertiser and photographs from its archives were put on display.

In paper, a birthday supplement took readers on an historical journey, looking back at key local stories from the last 125 years as well as how the town and the paper has changed.

The Ilkeston Advertiser was launched in 1881, when it was known as the Ilkeston and Erewash Valley Telegraph and published by Joseph Shakspeare and Co.

One of the longest-serving members of staff was William A Seymour, who died at the age of 84 after working for The Ilkeston Advertiser for 40 years, joining in 1899 and retiring in 1946.

The paper is now owned by Wilfred Edmunds Ltd, which is part of Johnston Press.