A new hyperlocal newspaper is set to double its print run after launching to combat the “demise of local journalism”.

The Heatons Post has been launched to serve the Stockport suburbs of Heaton Chapel, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Moor and Heaton Norris, as well as nearby Reddish.

The Post was co-founded by three women living within the Heatons – Amanda Fourie, Suze Howell and Mel Page.

Amanda is chief operating officer of the Four Heatons Traders Association, while Suze and Mel co-founded the Heart Of The Heatons festival in 2018.

The not-for-profit monthly title’s inaugural February edition was published following a crowdfunding campaign with a print run of 3,000 copies, which is to double to 6,000 for March.

A new fundraising bid has been launched to help with the £500 per month cost of printing 6,000 copies, but the co-founders have the eventual aim of offering door to door distribution for all homes on their patch.

The free paper publishes positive community news, updates, achievements and local developments and most of the content is contributed by local community groups, councillors, businesses and schools.

In a welcome editorial to readers, Amanda said: “There is so much great stuff happening in the Heatons and Reddish, but there’s no way of spreading the stories that matter to people in our community.

“With the demise of local journalism, news of what’s happening falls through the cracks.”

Mel and Suze jointly added: “When working on Heart of the Heatons, it was obvious that there was no single place for local people to share the community goings-on and find out about the stories that matter here on our doorstep.

“So, when Amanda asked us if we’d like to be involved, we said yes, without hesitation.”