A message from the editor

The Western Daily Press has been serving readers in the West Country since 1858 and through many challenges, from World Wars to global pandemics, we have always put this region first, offering a unique and unashamedly West view of events.

Regular readers will know that our focus has always been on issues affecting the region, with a special interest in the countryside and farming. However, the WDP has also always had a strong grasp on concerns for business in both rural and urban settings as well as an eye for the quirky and offbeat stories and pictures that make life in the South West so fascinating.

We champion all of the region’s major sporting teams and take particular pride in our extensive coverage of horse racing.

We speak up for local people, reporting their hopes and fears, and bring them the stories and pictures from around the world as well as those from right on their doorstep.

As a newspaper we have not been unaffected by many of the stories and issues we cover. Decades of change in the media have seen a big growth in digital news, but the Western Daily Press has remained faithful to its readers who prefer their information and entertainment printed in ink on paper.

And coronavirus, which has touched people in every walk of life, has had an impact on our operations too - forcing some changes to our business. However, through it all we have been able to keep people informed without missing an edition.

We could not do all of this without the continued support of our loyal readers. The commitment readers make to buying the WDP every day means we can continue to maintain the editorial standards we always strive to meet.

And one surefire way to make sure you never miss an edition and that we can be certain of a thriving future, is to subscribe to our service to receive a regular copy. Not only does that mean you will always have access to one of Britain’s best performing regional newspapers, but you will save money too. Readers who take out a six-day subscription can save 50 per cent on the cover price. You’ll find all the details you need on this page.

So thank you for picking up today’s edition. Please carefully consider signing up to become a member of the WDP family of subscribers, as we move out of the coronavirus pandemic and hopefully into a brighter West Country future.