A regional daily’s founder has been honoured in a ceremony attended by some of the newspaper’s former staff.

A blue plaque commemorating William Morris, the founder and lifelong editor of the Swindon Advertiser, has been unveiled on the paper’s old headquraters.

Mr Morris set up the Advertiser, which is also believed to be the UK’s first penny paper, in 1854.

He produced the first four-page-long edition alone, then continued as owner and editor for 37 years until his death in 1891.

Former Advertiser assistant editor Steve Webb, was among those present at the unveiling at the Advertiser’s old Victoria Road office, where it was based from the 1870s until 2018.

Steve, who worked at the paper for 34 years before leaving in 2018, told the Advertiser it was “about time” its founder was commemorated.

He said: “It’s as much part of the town as the football club.”

The plaque was unveiled by South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland and was partially funded by 98-year-old Desmond Morris, the Advertiser founder’s grandson.