The West Somerset Free Press will clock up 160 years of publishing next year.

Millions of words and thousands of pictures and advertisements have recorded and reflected life in West Somerset since 1860.

There have, of course, been many changes over those years, but keeping readers informed about what is happening in the area has always been at the heart of the Free Press.

That remains the case today and will continue to be in the future. But is the Free Press giving you everything you want from your local paper?

It’s a question we ask ourselves all the time – but the only people who can really answer that are you, our readers.

So we want you to let us know what you think of the Free Press. Tell us what you like. What you don’t like. What else you would like to see in it.

No one else – newspaper, TV, radio or website – gives you as comprehensive a picture of what happens in West Somerset as the Free Press does. But can we improve our news coverage and if so, how? Let us have your thoughts and ideas.

Tell us what else you enjoy reading – Letters? Sport? What’s On? Town and Village? Do you tackle the crossword in our weekly Brain Gym? Do you use our weekend TV guide? And, of course, tell us what you don’t like.

We also want you to let us know if there is anything new you would like to see in the paper. Perhaps more regular features such as gardening or motoring? More competitions and readers’ offers? If you’re a younger reader, what would you be interested in seeing?

As we said, much has changed over the years, but one thing which has remained constant is our size. The number of pages may go up and down, but we have always been a broadsheet newspaper.

Should we stay that way, or would you find a tabloid format more convenient? It’s the question raised by our readers more than any other and it’s the single biggest change we could make. So please tell us your preference – broadsheet or tabloid?

Remember – the Free Press is YOUR local weekly and we want to deliver what you want to read. So please email me with your views – good or bad! -at [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you.

Gareth Purcell, Editor