The Independent newspaper may have reached its 25th birthday on Friday – but it wasn’t the only ‘independent’ title celebrating a landmark.

For The Press, a local title founded which circulates in Dewsbury and Batley, chalked up its 500th edition on the same day.

The newspaper was founded by former Johnston Press editor Danny Lockwood in 2002 but he stepped back from the business in 2007 to focus on two sporting magazines which he publishes.

However he came back on board as its owner earlier this year, saving the title from almost certain closure.

Danny, now managing director of the title, says the paper’s commitment to hard news has been the secret of its success.

Said Danny: “We’ve always been committed to asking the tough questions and dealing with hot issues, and as we pass this milestone our readers are still telling us that’s what they want to read.”

To mark the occasion the paper included a 20-page supplement in the latest edition, charting its ups and downs which have included winning major awards, to fighting a bloody libel battle all the way to the High Court in London against former Labour MP Shahid Malik.

The latest edition of The Press

Added Danny: “We thought we might do a four or eight page insert, but when the sales staff started ringing round our regular customers the response was overwhelming.”

“Four became eight, eight became 12, 16 and 20 pages in no time at all. It’s made for a cracking revenue week. I had to tell advertising manager Lucy Tissiman we couldn’t cope with much more.”

“We’re a small team, very lean and we move quickly – that’s what’s kept us in the game all these years.

“But more than that, we stay very close to our readers and our advertisers. I think a lot of bigger publishing outfits could learn a few lessons from we small guys.”

Danny called on former editor and director Martin Shaw to help with putting the special edition together, while current editor David Bentley took care of the main book.

The Press goes head-to-head against a stable of six Johnston Press weeklies which Danny used to edit.