A regional daily will have a train named after it in celebration of its 140th anniversary.

The Eastern Daily Press, which was founded in 1870, is marking the milestone this month with a host of events, including having a National Express train named in its honour.

Editor Peter Waters will unveil the Eastern Daily Press 140 train next Friday at Norwich’s Thorpe station, along with a reader who was chosen through a competition.

The paper has also run copies of front pages from the last 140 years and will publish a 64-page souvenir magazine for the anniversary.

The souvenir supplement to be published later this month.

Peter said: “We’ve served Norfolk for 140 years, we’re the biggest selling regional morning in England, and our continued success is down to working for the county, reflecting its issues and interests, holding people to account when necessary, and highlighting what a great place it is to live.

“We ensure we have an unrivalled service of local, regional, national and international news, business and sport, as well as entertainment and features, and that way we’ve remained a one-stop shop – our reader shouldn’t need to buy a national title.

“Without betraying our news values, the newspaper and out website ought to be a daily reinforcement of the wise decision we’ve all made to reside in Norfolk, whether indigenous or incomer.

“Archant owns the business of the Eastern Daily Press but we have to remember that the newspaper belongs to our readers. I firmly believe that, particularly in these straitened times, if we look after Norfolk, it will look after us.

“It’s a great privilege to be only the 12th editor of the EDP in its history, and I’m acutely aware that my job is to be the title’s custodian, to look after it, nurture it and protect it, until I hand over to the next incumbent.”

To celebrate the anniversary, an exhibition is being held at Norwich Cathedral, put together by London correspondent Ian Collins and chief librarian Rosemary Dixon, and a reception will be held there for more than 50 former and current journalists next week.

The title has also produced a DVD for the milestone and will be reproducing the original four-page broadsheet edition produced 140 years ago.

Peter took over as editor last year after being deputy editor for three years, while the title was named the best regional paper earlier this year.