A West Country free paper has quadrupled in size since hitting the streets of Exeter four years ago.

The Heavitree News, which serves the east of the city, set up as a community paper with a circulation of 2,000 in January of that year.

And now, under editor Martyn Beckett, it is delivered by hand to 8,000 homes between the M5 and Exeter.

The former Derby Telegraph sports writer said: “I believe the people of Heavitree enjoy having a glossy non-political community paper, with plenty of human interest stories, personality pieces, a What’s On column and a focus on local issues such as conservation areas, parking, council business and the like.

“Each month I get a small bundle of letters, which spices things up, and I’ve recruited an army of loyal deliverers, without whom life would become impossible.”