TODAY sees the final edition of the Preston and Leyland Citizen being delivered to homes across the area.

The local newspaper industry was already facing considerable market challenges before the recession.

But the slump hitting all sectors of British industry has put unprecedented pressure on newspapers like the Citizen. It has therefore been decided to cease publication of the title.

The Citizen was launched in 1979 as one of the earliest publications in the free newspaper revolution which swept across the UK.

Its aim has always been to report – and reflect – the activities and views of residents. It has adopted a deliberate policy of focusing heavily on positive stories which reveal the strong sense of community which exists across the district.

Everyone at the Preston and Leyland would like to thank all our readers, contributors and advertisers for supporting the newspaper and helping to make it a product of which we were very proud.