OUR 2013 celebratory masthead reflects a special year for the Warrington Guardian as it toasts 160 years in the town.

The Warrington Guardian was launched by Alexander Mackie on Saturday, April 9, 1853. Costing five old pence the broadsheet was then just a eight pages – a mix of regional and national news.

Dr Mackie founded the paper at a time when the majority of the town’s population could neither read nor write.

By the time he died in 1894 the Guardian was being delivered every week through most of the town’s letterboxes.

Over the years we have greatly expanded Dr Mackie’s vision by seeking to encourage our huge family of readers to become involved in all matters affecting our community. We have also played our part in advancing many ambitious projects that have benefited the town’s residents.

Today’s newspapers are competing in a very different world to Dr Mackie’s with instant 24-hour communication.

The Guardian has more than 182,000 print, online and social media readers so what we say has a massive impact on the community.

In our 160th anniversary year we are supporting the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace as our charity of the year. The foundation marks a special anniversary in March – the 20th anniversary of the Warrington bombings. It will be a time to reflect on what happened on that tragic day but also to focus on all the magnificent work that has been done since then in the name of peace.

Nick Taylor, chief executive, of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, said: “Newspapers like the Warrington Guardian play a vital role in keeping us in touch with what is happening in our communities and in giving a voice to local people.

“The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace is proud to be chosen as charity of the year as both organisations face a significant anniversary.

“Our work to create peace and resolve conflict is based on dialogue, storytelling and listening to others and that is what our local newspaper does as well – we are both in the business of communication and so I congratulate the Guardian on its incredible history and its 160th anniversary and look forward to working together in the coming year.”

The Guardian has some exciting changes planned for this year to bring our readers an even better service. There are also events and competitions arranged to get the whole town involved in our anniversary.

We have teamed up with Warrington Museum to put on a special exhibition on the history of the paper later in the year.

Editor Nicola Priest said: “I’ve been editor for eight years and have seen a lot of changes to both the paper and the town in that time. I remain very proud of the Warrington Guardian and believe it has an exciting future.”