A weekly newspaper is set to digitise its entire 150-year-old archive after being awarded more than £70,000 for the project.

The Ross Gazette has won funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to undertake the scheme, which will see the archive made publicly available to view on the Herefordshire History website.

The project which has received £70,600 in total, is being run with Herefordshire Libraries, history society Herefordshire Lore and youth organisation mediaSHYPP.

The scheme will also include an intergenerational reminiscence initiative, primary school learning programme, film project and work with local history groups.

From left: Marsha O’Mahony from Herefordshire Lore, Jan Nesaratnam from Herefordshire Libraries, Charlotte Reynolds from the Ross Gazette, Sarah Chedgzoy from Herefordshire Council and Kie Cummings from MediaSHYPP

Charlotte Reynolds, Ross Gazette general manager, said: “We are thrilled to have received support thanks to National Lottery players, and are immensely proud that the important archive of Ross-on-Wye history will be forever preserved for future generations.”

Vanessa Harbar, head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands said: “We’re delighted to support The Ross Gazette to celebrate its heritage and preserve its significant archive of news stories and photographs digitally.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, local people will explore and play a part in preserving an important part of the town’s history.”