The Accrington Observer has made the shortlist for Weekly Newspaper of the Year in a prestigious competition.

The Observer is one of six of  the top weekly papers across the north west to battle it out in the O2 Media Awards.

The nomination comes in the year that the Observer celebrated its 125th anniversary.

Observer editor Gareth Tidman was delighted.

He said: “The weekly newspaper of the year category is always keenly contested and so to make the final six is a feather in the cap for the whole team, and is especially pleasing in this anniversary year.

“As with many other businesses, these are challenging times for weekly newspapers up and down the country, but this recognition shows we are up there with the very best.”  We marked the 125th anniversary by reprinting in full the first issue of the paper, along with a free, 24-page bumper pull-out.

In 2012, the Observer also produced a special commemorative edition to mark the historic visit of Her Majesty the Queen to the borough in May.

The nomination is further recognition for the editorial team following the shortlisting of our sister title the Rossendale Free Press last year.

The other nominees in the same category as the Observer are: MEN Media stablemate the Macclesfield Express, along with The Liverpool Post, Cumberland News, Crewe Chronicle, and Champion Newspapers.

The winners will be announced on Thursday, November 8.