A weekly newspaper in Sussex which faced calls for a boycott after a group of delivery boys and girls were issued with redundancy notices has resolved the dispute.

The Crawley News sparked a Facebook protest after it outsourced its distribution contract to a new provider TNT.

Initially the firm had to bring in a team from outside the town to deliver the paper.

But after talks with the paper’s owners, Northcliffe Media, TNT has now agreed to speed up plans to recruit a local network of paper boys and girls – meaning some of the original delivery team could get their jobs back.

The group that set up the Facebook campaign has been asked to identify youngsters who want a paper round in Crawley.

And, as a result, 16 children have already accepted offers to take on a paper round again.

Parent and campaign group member Hannah Duffy said:  “It is great to know the kids have got their paper rounds back and I think it will be a good thing for the town because the money they get will go back into the local economy.

“We are really thrilled. I have had so many lovely messages from the kids and it is obvious that this means a lot to them.”

Crawley News editor Andy Worden said: “When TNT took over the contract, it needed a short-term method to ensure everyone got their papers efficiently and promptly.

“Lots of work has been going on behind the scenes to try and get the local paperboys and girls delivering the paper again. It is wonderful they will be doing this again even sooner than we thought would be possible.”