A baker has confected a weekly newspaper in meringue form to show her support for the regional press industry.

Frances Hill has backed her local paper the Campbeltown Courier with the sweet creation, painted using food colour.

Mrs Hill runs the Muneroy Tearoom in Southend, on the Kintyre Peninsula, and last year won the Tearoom Destination award at the Scottish Food Awards.

She used a total of 14 egg whites to create the front page, which she did in support of the #buyapaper campaign.

The campaign was launched by JPIMedia last month to highlight the important work of local journalists.

Courier news editor Mark Davey told HTFP: “Frances’ meringues are as topical as cartoons and it was great for the Courier to be immortalised, if only briefly, before melting in the mouth.”

The price of the Courier increased by five pence last week, and Mrs Hill sold her creation at a price of 95p per page in homage.

Commenting on the tearoom’s Facebook page in reference to Courier reporter Hannah O’Hanlon, reader Sandy McKinnon wrote: “Ach Hannah’s worth an extra 5p a week.”

Hannah replied to Mrs Hill: “Thank you so much for your support, Frances – it is very much appreciated. It’s not always easy but we try our best to put out a good paper every week.

“It is unfortunate that the price had to increase but small changes like that may be the only way small, local newspapers like the Courier will survive.”