LOCAL newspapers were given right royal backing this week as Prince Charles praised them for the way they serve communities.

The heir to the throne sounded out a glowing tribute to mark Local Newspaper Week which celebrates the achievements of titles such as the Star, the Bucks Free Press and Midweek.

The Prince said: "Local newspapers are at the very heart of the communities they serve and play an extraordinarily important role in shaping local agendas and priorities.

"Local newspapers can help us all realise what we can do."

The week celebrates the role papers have in the community, with a focus this year on green issues.

There are 12million people who read a local paper without touching a national - meaning we reach a whole different audience.

The Bucks Free, Star and Midweek, alongside papers nationwide, are also doing their bit for the environment - because 80 per cent of newspapers are made from paper that has been recycled at least once.

And we are now asking you, our readers, to step up the fight to protect the environment by recycling all of your newspapers.

We know many householders already go to great lengths to stay green, but we are asking everyone to take personal responsibility by recycling and using the collection services for paper and green waste that are all readily available in most areas.

We can now recycle nearly anything from basic household waste such as left-over food and tea bags, to items such as Christmas trees.

The power of newspapers was also praised by MP David Miliband, secretary for environmental, food and rural affairs, said: "Local papers can help individuals and families make their contribution.

"They can help educate, inform and inspire."

The success of our own stable of titles was demonstrated in December when the Bucks Free Press celebrated its 150th anniversary. This coincided with an impressive circulation increase of almost three per cent and victory in a ground-breaking campaign to make the authorities tell the public how much revenue had been raised in speeding fines on a notorious hill in High Wycombe.