The Haslemere Herald is celebrating its 110th anniversary.

The newspaper, which has been owned by Tindle Newspapers for the past 40 years, first made its appearance as the Haslemere and Hindhead Gazette on September 16, 1896.

To mark the milestone, Sir Ray Tindle has donated £2,000 to help restore the Haslemere War Memorial in the High Street to its former glory.

He also wrote a special message of thanks to readers and advertisers, which was published in the Herald.

He said: “We are all grateful to those who started the newspaper in 1896.

“We have endeavoured over the past 40 years, to maintain the high standards that they set in terms of editorial quality and of service to our readers.

“This is my 59th year in the newspaper industry and each passing year has added to my conviction that a paper is only as good as its staff.

“Here, in The Herald, we have the finest staff any newspaper could possibly have.

“I am grateful to everyone who brings out The Herald each week in the face of all the difficulties – and I send them, and you, our readers and advertisers, my grateful thanks.”

Sir Ray’s donation towards the restoration of the Haslemere War Memorial means the fund for the project is now a third of the way to its £13,000 target.

Work is due to start this month and is planned to be completed in time for this year’s Remembrance Day Service on Sunday, November 12.