LAST night the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter was among a number of local businesses recognised by Malvern Hills District Council in its annual Platinum Awards.

The awards have not been around long, but because of the calibre of so many of our local firms they have quickly attained considerable prestige and we are proud to count ourselves among the winners.

Although we have made some changes to the newspaper in the past 12 months and that continues to be reflected in a rising circulation, it is those things we find the time to do outside of the day to day work, like charity fundraising and the Christmas film show that are also important.

'Service Excellence' is quite a tag to live up to but we will be striving to show the accolade is deserved over the next 12 months.

Having, quite rightly, praised Malvern Theatres Trust (the Arts winner) for providing the best regional theatre outside London, we do wonder how the council can still consider selling it off?