The Peterborough Evening Telegraph is celebrating two campaign victories.
One focused on the plight of a family from Ukraine, who were threatened with deportation after living in the town for four years.
Oksana Djula and her two teenage daughters Krystyna and Zoriana, who were described by their local councillor as “a model family”, were suddenly taken from Peterborough to a deportation centre. The paper’s campaign was backed by local MP Helen Clark, who challenged the decision to deport the family.
With only hours to spare before they were due to be sent back to Ukraine, the Djulas were told they were being allowed to return to Peterborough while their case is reviewed.
It was the paper’s second victory of the week, coming as the city council announced a U-turn in its decision to close down an open-air diner in Peterborough.
The council said it made its closure order after receiving complaints from nearby shops, but when the Evening Telegraph checked 25 neighbouring premises, only one had grumbled to the council.
The Evening Telegraph put the two stories together on its front cover under the banner headline “Victory”.
Editor Kevin Booth said: “Both were strong local stories that created a huge amount of interest among our readers. Our stance on the Djula story highlighted weaknesses in the country’s asylum laws. The open-air diner story got such a reaction that more than 1,300 people signed a petition.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
