A new journalism job has been created after a city news title won £5,000 of funding to expand its climate and environment coverage.

Bristol 24/7 has announced the creation of a climate and sustainability editor role, which it claims will be the first of its kind in the regional press.

The website has secured funding of £5,000 from NatWest to pay for the part-time position for an initial six months, along with contributions from readers and other partners.

Announcing the creation of the role, B24/7 stated its aim to “ensure environmental issues are front and centre of our coverage”.

Managing director Ben Wright said: “We’ve done a lot of thinking about how we can make the biggest difference in addressing this huge and global challenge on a local level.

“We decided that keeping the climate and the environment at the forefront of city conversations and inspiring individuals, businesses and the government to take meaningful actions on a local level will be vital to hitting the challenging targets we’ve set as a city.

“As a local independent media organisation with a large and engaged audience, we feel we are in a great position to do this. With the support of our members and key partners and now with the additional funding we have received from NatWest, we are delighted to now be able to recruit for the role that we believe can help make this happen.”

NatWest has granted the funding as part of its own work on environmental commitments, but B24/7 has stressed the company will have no say over the content that is covered or how it is covered.

Paul Edwards, pictured, chair of the NatWest South-West board, said: “Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and the urgency for action has never been greater than now.

“As one of the UK’s biggest banks and the largest lender to business, we have both the ability and the responsibility to take a leading role in that fight.

“We want to deliver real change – from helping families to purchase energy-efficient homes to supporting businesses and projects that create jobs and speed up the UK’s transition to net zero.

“To do this, we will support our customers throughout the South West to take advantage of the significant opportunities that the transition to net zero will bring.

“Education is crucial to empowering people to make the right choices and that is why NatWest felt it was important to support the appointment of a climate and sustainability editor at Bristol 24/7.

“The title is a trusted news resource throughout the city and wider Avon area and respected for its honesty and integrity on the issues affecting the region.

“Climate change is one of these issues and, through this appointment, Bristol 24/7 will be able to educate and inform people and businesses so they can make the right decisions to drive positive change.”