In October I reported that the small independent weekly, the Wear Valley Mercury, had managed to mount a significant campaign against the closure of the accident and emergency department at Bishop Auckland hospital.
On Monday it will do better still when deputy editor Phil Hardy leads a deputation to Downing Street to present the paper's petition containing almost 15,000 signatures. Editor Adrian Braddy said: "We have been stunned by the response to our campaign. It has received almost universal support."
