LEIGH MP Andy Burnham praised the Journal for its value and staying power.

He said: “In an age when nothing seems to last, the cult of celebrity or the latest fashion fad, the Journal has been a permanent feature of the social, political and cultural landscape of our great town.

“It is vital for both community cohesion and for an effective local democracy. It is an asset to the people of Leigh and long may it continue to prosper.”