Welcome to Ashbourne News Telegraph

THE Ashbourne News Telegraph is a weekly paid-for newspaper covering the charming and historic market town of Ashbourne and its surrounding area. Its circulation is 5922 (independently audited - Jul-Dec 2010).

The only dedicated paid-for newspaper for Ashbourne, the News Telegraph was created when the Ashbourne News and the Ashbourne Telegraph merged in the 1950s. The next big change for the title was when it transformed from a broadsheet to a tabloid format in October, 2005.

It is packed with local news and features, and includes regular readers' letters, market reports for farmers, village grapevine, a look down memory lane, what's on entertainment pages and local sport.

 Lying in a lovely green valley on the southern edge of the Peak District, the bustling town attracts thousands of tourists, who flock to see the cobbled market place, the legendary row of antiques shops, the network of hidden alleys and yards, and the wide elegant Church Street, considered to be the finest street of Georgian buildings in Derbyshire.

 The market still takes place every Thursday and Saturday throughout the year, continuing a long tradition dating back to 1257 when the town was granted a charter to allow stalls in the market place.

Each February the town hosts Shrovetide football on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. The game, played by the Up'ards and the Down'ards, has little to do with conventional football and has few rules.

The town becomes swamped with thousands of people keen to take part in or support the match, keen to see the ball make it to one of the goals - which are nearly three miles apart on the town's outskirts.