A CAMPAIGN asking the government to support local newspapers is being shared by MPs.

Parliamentarians have signed a letter to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, calling on the government to support local and independent media through more public health advertisements.

The letter, led by Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael, highlights the importance of local press in communicating trustworthy information and the financial strain faced by local journalists in light of the coronavirus.

It has been signed by 40 MPs included Oxford West and Abingdon's Layla Moran.

Ms Moran also urged her constituents to “buy a paper today to save our local press tomorrow” and said the local press was a 'trusted source of local news for our community'.

Newspapers across the UK have faced falling revenues due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Advertisers have tightened their purse strings and people across the UK are less likely to buy a paper as they only go shopping for essentials.

Industry bodies including the News Media Association have also called for government support.