A weekly newspaper has reprinted its first edition as part of celebrations to mark its 200th anniversary.

The Cumberland News first rolled off the presses on 3 June 1815 when it was known as The Patriot.

The title reprinted the first four-page edition last week, which warned of an impending “great battle” 15 days before the Battle of Waterloo.

This week, the Carlisle-based title is publishing a special 32-page supplement, pictured below, looking back at the newspaper’s archive, its most significant moments and also to the future.

And in a link to its history, the presses will be set rolling for this Thursday’s edition by the current Dean of Carlisle, the Very Reverend Mark Boyling, in front of specially invited guests.

This is because the Dean in 1815 was the driving force behind the launch of The Patriot, which he started as a means to tackle “growing evil” in the city.

Editor David Helliwell said: “We want to reach as many parts of our community as possible through these celebrations and show people everything that’s been achieved over the years through appeals, campaigns and great journalism.

“It’s a great opportunity to dust off some of the editions and articles that haven’t had an audience for years. We’re using social media this week to Tweet out some great pictures that deserve another airing.

“We’ve also had a lot of local interest in the 1815 reprint. People seem more fascinated by a small piece about the elopement of a local army captain and teenage girl than the Duke of Wellington’s letter home just days before defeating Napoleon in one of European history’s defining moments.”

The paper launched a £20,000 appeal in January to support the Pride of Cumbria air ambulance service, as part of its anniversary celebrations, and the target was reached within four months.

The target was then extended with the aim of raising a further £40,000 for diagnostic equipment.

Other events planned for the anniversary include the cutting of a giant cake, a £5,000 donation to a local charity, a staff celebration and a major photographic exhibition in Carlisle later in the year.

The first edition of the title, which was republished last week.