Last updated 12:33, Saturday, 03 May 2008

For nearly 200 years Cumbrian Newspapers has served the local community. And though the world has gone through countless changes in that time, readers have always been able to rely on their local paper to bring them the latest news, events, opinion and campaigns.

A recent campaign backed by the News & Star was the Safer Roads for Cumbria initiative, which has been credited with a drop in the number of people killed or injured on our roads.

Recent figures showed that last year there were 318 killed and serious injury (KSI) casualties against a 2007 target of 377.

Though this statistic is still unacceptably high, and the campaign against dangerous driving continues, it is clear campaigns can make a difference. In order to do this, they need maximum publicity and this is something newspapers can provide.

Our supplement Your Kids also supports the Walking Bus, part of Cumbria County Council's Better Ways To School initiative. The scheme encourages more children, accompanied by adults, to walk to school, thereby reducing unnecessary car journeys and improving safety along school routes. It also ensures a healthy start to the day and has proved popular throughout the county.

As National Newspaper Week promotes newspaper campaigns, we are proud to play our part in making our communities safer.