The Evening Press in York celebrated its first birthday as a compact with a bumper package – and extra sales.

Figures just released for the 64-page September 6 edition show it sold an extra 9,000 copies.

The change in format has so far proved a winner, with the Evening Press listed in the top ten of the 53 evening titles in England in the January-June 2005 ABC figures.

The 123-year-old newspaper turned tabloid a year ago, and several changes and initiatives have taken place in its pages since then.

The Evening Press introduced a new, free weekly sports supplement every Monday.

The paper’s Business Awards gathered prestige while its new Community Pride Awards are helping seek out and reward local heroes.

New education and health pages were launched, along with a weekly Feelgood Friday section… and a double sudoku puzzle every day.

Editor Kevin Booth said: “We are still evolving in our compact format and we have some exciting plans.

“We have listened to what our readers want and we are continuing to strengthen and develop our all-round local news, information and entertainments package.”

Events covered during the first compact year for the Press include Royal Ascot coming to York, the city’s professional rugby league team, York City Knights, topping their division and winning promotion, and an Evening Press campaign which forced the city council to make a u-turn on controversial parking charges.

The celebration edition was peppered with birthday, “well done” messages from readers, including the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Greenwood, pictured below.