Today’s Gloucestershire Echo was under threat as a power cut hit Northcliffe’s print plant at Staverton.

Flooding at an electricity sub station caused the cut, prompting contingency plans which should see the Cheltenham-based title printed in Bristol, possibly with a reduced print run.

The 24-hour print operation was also due to print a number of third-party titles and Northcliffe free weekly the Mendip Messenger today, which could be hit if power is not quickly restored, with the Western Daily Press and South Wales Evening Post are due to be printed tonight.

Gloucester’s The Citizen was printed in the early hours of this morning before the power cut, but a planned special edition looked in jeopardy this morning.

Its first editions included nine pages of flood coverage, including a P1 headlined ‘On the Brink’, reflecting the dire situation in Gloucester where there is no power and no fresh water, as well as two pages of submitted pictures.

Editor Ian Mean said: “Because of the immense interest we had hoped to do another edition at 10.30am, but because of the power cut we may not be able to do that.”

Staff at the Echo and Citizen also continuously updated thisisgloucestershire.co.uk over the weekend, keeping readers updated on evacuations, traffic and water shortages. This included a number of videos showing footage of floods around the county.

Ian said: “Staff at the Citizen and Echo have done an absolutely marvellous job.

“Our website has been particularly important in this crucial situation in informing readers.

“Yesterday it had more hits than it has ever had before.” Do you have a story about the regional press?
Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or e-mail:
[email protected]