Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, who is a former journalist for the Western Daily Press, has been awarded an honorary degree by Bristol University.
He was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Letters at a special ceremony at Wills Memorial Building.

The Eastern Daily Press Breast Cancer Appeal has topped the £180,000 mark.
Less than £20,000 is now needed to complete the first phase of the appeal to build a new breast care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.

The Leicester Mercury’s Round-up the Cowboys campaign which aims to get rid of rogue builders has received praise from trade and industry secretary and Leicester West MP Patricia Hewitt.
She is aiming to outlaw cold-calling tradesman who carry out unwanted work and then overcharge for it and said the Mercury’s campaign played a major part in her plans.

The Western Mail successfully pressured the Welsh Assembly Government into disclosing the cost of the 2003-04 payments for the A5 road on Anglesey.
The WAG originally declined the paper’s requests for the figure claiming it was “commercially sensitive”.

The Northern Echo has given free web training to people at a workshop run by its community web team.
It was part of the paper’s Communigate programme which has recently launched its 2,000th member website.

An appeal by the Luton Herald & Post has raised almost £7,000 to buy a new wheelchair for 21-year-old brittle bone sufferer Marie Vistartas.
One anonymous reader donated £3,000 and a local pub collected £1,400 during a special fundraising day.

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