A champion of community news in the Great Yarmouth area is retiring after 16 years of editing the town's weekly newspaper.

Yesterday Anne Edwards, coastal editor for the EDP and editor of the Great Yarmouth Mercury, ended her 48 years in journalism.

She started her career on the Melton Mowbray Times and worked on various daily and weekly papers and was at the daily Newcastle Journal before her move to the east coast.

In her last opinion piece for the Great Yarmouth Mercury Mrs Edwards said: 'It has been my honour and joy to fight your causes, hold those in public life to account, record happy - and scary - moments, and bring a taste of our life on the east coast to a wide audience.

'I have lived and worked in the borough for 16 years and it has become my 'spiritual' home – I feel I was born here.

'I will continue my support for the borough and its people.'

In her last week, Mrs Edwards was welcomed by the Great Yarmouth town hall mayor's parlour by title holder Cllr Mary Coleman and Cllr Barry Coleman, the mayor's consort.

As a thank you, she was presented with a vintage glass paperweight, featuring an historic image of Haven Bridge, reflecting both her interest in local history and the fact she crosses the bridge each day to get to and from the paper's offices.

She also was given a fun 'I've met the Mayor' badge to wear, plus flowers.

Mrs Coleman said: 'Anne is a proper local weekly editor: championing and celebrating the community she serves and lives among, always finding space to cover the smaller community news which often mean the most to readers.

'After 16 years we wanted to do something to thank her for her commitment to the borough.

'While Anne is moving roles from newspaper editor to newspaper reader, I am pleased to hear she will still be very much involved in her community, and I wish her all the best in the next exciting phase of her life.'

MP Brandon Lewis presented Mrs Edwards with a limited edition House of Commons wooden shield yesterday.