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Ukrainian language splash welcomes refugees to daily’s patch

A regional daily welcomed the first refugees fleeing the Russian invasion to its patch with a Ukrainian headline.

Blackpool daily The Gazette welcomed new arrivals from Ukraine to the resort by splashing with the headline ‘Laskavo prosymo do Blekpula’.

Translated, the message means ‘Welcome to Blackpool’.

The front page, pictured below, was devised by the newspaper’s head of print Mike Hill.

Blackpool Ukraine

Gazette editor Nicola Adam told HTFP: “We wanted to make sure that these traumatised people forced to leave their homes and escape the war in Ukraine received as warm a welcome as possible from the local community, and particularly through their local newspaper title.

“Blackpool has a tradition of always welcoming refugees and those fleeing conflict or needing sanctuary.

“For example, the town is currently hosting families of asylum seekers in a hotel on the seafront and despite opposition to the project politically, the families themselves have also been welcomed with open arms into the community and the children into local schools.

“And during World War Two Blackpool became a temporary home to many evacuated children from London and other cities, plus many adults evacuated from war-torn regions including Belgium and Holland.

“Credit for the headline in the Ukrainian language goes to our head of print Mike Hill, with thanks to our design team.”

The Gazette’s splash comes after Glasgow paper The Herald on Sunday ran with the headline ‘Slava Ukraini’, meaning ‘Glory to Ukraine’, on its front page in solidarity with suffering Ukrainians.