A title that claims to be the country’s longest-running community media outlet has announced its closure after 15 years.

The Salford Star has revealed it will cease publication after the local elections in May following “some incredibly difficult times”.

The Star launched in May 2006 both online and in print, but has been a digital-only publication since 2009.

Over the course of its existence it has been runner-up in Private Eye’s Paul Foot Award for investigative journalism, won the Plain English Award for Best Regional Newspaper and won How Do’s North West Magazine of the Year.

It has covered issues including floods, riots, cladding catastrophes, planning scandals and MPs’ expense.

Star co-founder and editor Stephen Kingston said: “We have had the support of zillions of Salford people who have helped to sustain the Salford Star over some incredibly difficult times, but it is now time to move on.

“Those who follow us should be aware that if you give the community a real voice and really do hold authorities to account, there will be a backlash, both financially, and from those who will try to discredit you.”

The Star’s website is to be archived by the British Library, while it will be publicly available on search engines for at least 10 years.