Prime Minister David Cameron writes to the Herald and Gazette

For decades, local newspapers have faced fierce competition.

Firstly there was the radio, then television and, now, of course, the internet.

But despite all these challenges, they continue to play a vital role and that’s testament to the extraordinary creativity and versatility of all those people who work in local media.

Local newspapers are hugely important to our country – for two good reasons.

Firstly, they strengthen our democracy, holding the powerful to account.

Whereas national newspapers can focus on the bigger picture, it’s local papers that often really analyse the detail of what central and local government is doing and the impact their policies have on the ground.