Journalists at a weekly newspaper found themselves in the spotlight when they were filmed by a BBC television crew after celebrating a rise in circulation.

The Sidmouth Herald’s circulation rose by 1.4pc to 6,402 in the latest ABC figures published last week and it was the only paid-for title in the South West to see its sales increase.

Following publication of the figures, journalists from the Archant title’s Exeter office were filmed by a local television crew from the BBC Spotlight regional news programme for a piece which was broadcast last Friday.

The Herald was one of just 13 paid-for weeklies to see a rise in circulation and it came after the title also had an increase of 0.68pc in the ABC fgures for the first half of 2012.

Group editor Phil Griffin said: “There can be few, if any, newspapers which have grown readership in such a way over the past 12 months. It’s down to solid reporting and active promotions work – a real team effort.”

The circulation success follows Stefan Gordon taking over as content editor last April and giving the paper a new direction, with a focus on human interest stories and community events.

Sidmouth Herald group editor Phil Griffin, sports editor Lee Glanville, content editor Stefan Gordon, distribution manager Pat Smith, reporter Alain Tolhurst and Sonia Wilkinson, of distribution, celebrate the rise in circulation.