A regional daily is working to map incidents of sexual harassment against women on its patch.

Blackpool daily The Gazette has thrown its weight behind the Reclaim Blackpool Map, a project which is working to make the streets safer for women in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.

The Gazette has joined forces Big Issue North deputy editor Antonia Charlesworth, who lives in the Blackpool area, for the campaign.

Antonia had put out a plea for women to come forward and share their own experiences of sexual harassment.

Around 50 respondents came forward and she plotted them on a Google map, which was subsequently used and credited by Blackpool Council as evidence in its bid for the Safer Street fund.

The Gazette promoted the campaign on its front page on Tuesday, pictured below.

Editor Nicola Adam told HTFP: “As a woman, I feel this is not an issue given enough prominence, so when my attention was drawn to the work of local resident and Big Issue North deputy editor Antonia Charlesworth, I wanted us to join forces to shout about it as loudly as possible.

“The projects’ achievements are remarkable, bringing women together and allowing unheard voices a forum, but also helping Blackpool Council in its successful bid for Safer Street funding. In a week a woman was raped in a popular spot for joggers, the project’s work has never been so relevant and if The Gazette can help make a difference – it will.”

Antonia said: “The stories are sometimes recent and sometimes historical. They range from severe to the kind women often deem ordinary and they demonstrate that women of all ages – from childhood to old age – are subject to sexual harassment.

“We know this problem isn’t unique to Blackpool but I do think the nature of the town as a party destination exacerbates it. A lot of the reports take place in bars and in a conversation with one woman recently she said it feels as though women here are treated as fair game on a night out – what happens in Blackpool stays in Blackpool.

“But it stays with the women who are targeted too. In some cases women are recalling incidents that happened decades ago. At the other end of the spectrum there are reports in green spaces which highlights a barrier to women accessing them.

“Last week a woman was raped near a local golf course – there’s a report on the map in the same spot three years ago where a 47-year-old woman had her path blocked and was screamed at by a man because her bicycle light was too bright.”

Alongside The Gazette, the mapping project is being prompted by local charities Empowerment and Fylde Coast Women’s Aid.

Antonia added: “The project has been driven by women in the town from the start and has evolved organically and I hope it continues to.

“As awful as it is to see the stories coming in – this week for example one from a woman who was raped at knifepoint when she was 11 – it feels really powerful to be able to share stories that wouldn’t otherwise be heard

“But as much as I hope women will be empowered by sharing their experiences, I hope those that hold the power to make positive change take note too – be it the police, the local authority, business owners or the men who harass women in the first place.”