Initially, support was mixed: one letter to the local newspaper branded the scheme 'reckless and dangerous' but councillors were persuaded to go ahead.

Now, according to a local newspaper report, there are 22 people chasing every job vacancy.

For agents, it offered more leads at a lower price than their local newspaper.

And so to football, which has far more money than a local newspaper organisation - still less a cub reporter - could ever dream of.

The local newspaper group marked time at 5p.