I AM forced to lament the passing of a grand old local newspaper.

The Gravesend Reporter died suddenly the other week.

Its place was taken by a cheap looking little booklet full of adverts, that deserves instant dispatch to the recycling bin.

Thank God for the News Shopper, our now, number one weekly local newspaper.

I for one love it.

All the local news is there as always.

Views from local people on the Letters page.

I know this letter looks like an ad for your paper, but it is my pat on the back for sticking to being a local "newspaper" and a big smack for the Reporter for letting down the local people that it served for so long.

Glen Handley
Darenth Drive
Chalk