One of East Lancashire’s best-known weekly newspapers is celebrating its 100th birthday.

The Nelson Leader rolled off the press for the first time in December 1900.

The first edition featured news about Nelson men fighting in the Boer War and since then the newspaper has reported on two world wars and massive changes in Lancashire life.

Before the Leader was launched, the town had been served by the Nelson Chronicle. The two papers were merged by the Leader’s founder Middleton Coulton in 1904.

Until 1965, the Leader’s front page featured no news – only adverts.

But since then, the operation has expanded and the newspaper has been able to cover more stories.

In its birthday edition, the Leader said: “We’ve been leading the way in reporting the news in Nelson for the last 100 years – so here’s to the next 100!”

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