THE Echo is a campaigning newspaper and we pride ourselves in being at the very heart of the local community.

We listen to our readers and take action where we can on their behalf — and this has already paid dividends.

As well as helping to convince the city council on the need for a rethink over its plan to close public toilets through our Save Our Toilets campaign, the Echo has a proud record of bring pressure to bear on decision-makers.

Our efforts so far have:

Won praise from police for helping to lower the drink-drive figures through the promotion of Anna's Campaign.

Helped to throw a lifeline to the city's Northcott theatre, by getting the Arts Council to do a U-turn after it said it would withdraw funding.

Reduced the number of plastic carrier bags in use in our circulation area.

Successfully campaigned for a ban in the sale of potentially lethal Samurai swords.

Got a school sports pitch reinstated for use by the local community and put pressure on school management company Carillion to take action over hot schools.

Our efforts as a campaigning newspaper have led to a string of awards.

The Echo, already the South West daily newspaper of the year and campaigning newspaper of the year, picked up another accolade for its work in November, when it won the Press Gazette's environmental campaign of the year.

We beat off competition from the Sunday Times and the News of the World after being nominated in the industry awards for our Green Team campaign.

In October we were named Newspaper of the Year by the World Association of Newspapers.

The Echo walked off with the main award during the World Young Reader Conference and Expo in Prague for its work with Green Teams in Exeter's schools.

Last summer the Echo's We Care campaign won Community Campaign of the Year at the 2009 EDF Energy South West Media Awards.