A newspaper which went from fortnightly to weekly publication last year has celebrated the first anniversary of the frequency change.

The Crediton Country Courier started life 40 years ago as a monthly newspaper produced on a kitchen table.

It eventually went fortnightly in 1980 before becoming a weekly in May 2013.

Now owner Sir Ray Tindle has marked the paper’s first year as a weekly title with a celebration lunch for staff.

In a press statement yesterday, the group said the transition had been “very successful” and had increased both circulation and advertising revenues.

Speaking at the lunch, Courier general manager Sean Constable attributed the success to the Tindle philosophy of “local names and local faces.”

Sir Ray also praised journalist Sue Read for launching the Courier 40 years ago in the teeth of strong opposition.

Four decades on, Sue remains with the title as a senior reporter.