A soon-to-be-defunct council has honoured a weekly newspaper for the title’s work in holding it to account for almost half a century.

Craven District Council presented the Legacy Award to the Craven Herald for its journalists’ “exemplary work which has benefitted the Craven District area”.

The Herald was presented with the award at the last ever meeting of the council, which is being merged with six other local authorities to form a unitary North Yorkshire Council.

Chief reporter Lesley Tate, pictured, and reporter Viv Mason accepted the honour.

Herald editor Jon Stokoe told HTFP: “In the 49 years of Craven District Council’s existence it would be fair to say we have taken it to task on many important issues.

“But we’ve also celebrated its successes and achievements in that time too. So I was delighted to hear that the council wanted to say ‘thank you for the work you have done for your community’.

“And it was fitting that chief reporter Lesley Tate and reporter Viv Mason were on hand to collect the award, having a good 40 years’ experience between them of going armed with notepad and pen to full council, planning, licensing, select committee, policy and resources and standards committee meetings to name but a few.

“So for Lesley and Viv, and the reporters that have gone before them, it’s a nice pat on the back for their dedication to sniffing out a good tale, rather than staying behind their laptop to bash out press release after press release.”