The Archant-owned London paper the Newham Recorder is credited with helping to foil the burglary of a pensioner after running an article on distraction burglaries and publishing CCTV images of two suspects.

Newham Police detective inspector Andrew Packer, who heads the force’s burglary unit, told the Recorder: ‘We were informed of another attempted burglary which was prevented by the victim having a page from your paper by the front door, which heightened their awareness and prevented a substantive offence. The system works.”

Editor Colin Grainger added: ‘Local newspapers have a vital role in the communities they serve and this is a brilliant example of the impact they can have on the lives of their readers. We are very glad to have played a part in preventing an elderly resident from becoming a burglary victim.”