A weekly newspaper is planning to re-tell the whole story of World War One to its 21st century readers – with the help of a local historian.

The Mid-Devon Advertiser series will trawl its pages from a century ago to bring the global conflict to life for a modern-day audience.

From now until 2019 the Newton Abbot-based Tindle title will recreate a weekly insight into how WWI was reported using archived material.

The articles are being written by town historian and author John Ellis and branded Newton Abbot’s Great War: Forgotten Times, Forgotten Men, with reference to his book of the same name that was launched through the paper.

“My book and the articles for the Advertiser are as much about the stories of the people left at home as they are about the men who went away to fight,” he said.

“The newspaper’s archives provide a unique insight into how an international crisis had local ramifications and would go on to change the landscape for ever.”

Advertiser managing director Sandra Perraton said: “Having John prepare a look at the events of a century ago is wonderful. I don’t know of any other title like ours offering a week by week account of how the war developed for the full four years it lasted.

“We hear a lot about local newspapers struggling to maintain market share but if you offer readers what they want at a competitive price then the prospects remain good.

“We hear a lot about local newspapers struggling to maintain market share but if you offer readers what they want at a competitive price then the prospects remain good.

“Our focus of course is on news from the many communities we serve but we back that up with strong, unique features and a lively platform for the many businesses that operate locally.

“It’s a formula that has served the MDA and its readers well for 151 years and we see no reason to set about wholesale change for the sake of it,” she added.

The 100th anniversary of  the start of World War One falls on August 4.

Meanwhile another Tindle-owned title, the Ross Gazette, has produced an historic 16-page supplement to commemorate the centenary of the start of the conflict.

‘Remembering World War I in Ross-on-Wye’, was published as a free pull-out inside the Wednesday 30 July edition of the paper.

Editor Jo Scrivin said: “Over the past year the Ross Gazette has been busily researching and preparing a special commemorative supplement to mark this anniversary. Many young men from Ross and the surrounding villages were killed or injured at battles which changed the world.

“On August 4th, the whole nation will be commemorating the beginning of World War I. We feel it is right and proper to pay tribute to their sacrifice and we hope that readers will also be moved by the stories that are included.”