The Hartlepool Mail has launched a campaign urging its readers to take pride in their home town.

The Johnston Press-owned daily is asking its readers to ignore the effects of spending cuts with its ‘Proud To Be A Poolie’ drive.

Tuesday’s issue of the paper saw the launch of a campaign ‘to spread the word about the best town in the world” which asked readers to pick up a poster proclaiming pride in Hartlepool, have their photo taken with it and then send the images to the paper so that they can be published.