With a circulation of 500 and described by chairman David Atkinson as "a mix of Private Eye and Have I Got News For You", the Hillam News has kept the neighbourhood buzzing with gossip, with a whole host of features and information.

And it has really come up trumps with successful campaigns, the latest of which has seen cars finally restricted to a 20-minute waiting period outside the Post Office following a ten-year drive against the congestion caused by parked vehicles.

"We get lots of local news, and the secret is we have loads of contributors," added David, also the chief reporter, who said: "We go out looking for news."

Among their scoops was breaking the story of the sale of Monk Fryston Hall, while the appearance of a male streaker with underpants on his head was the 'sauce' of much amusement and speculation, 'covered' in the 24-page paper with a cartoon depicting ladies asking: "Pass the binoculars, please!"

Started by local resident Mary Little, the bi-monthly paper is delivered free to every house in the village, with a hundred available for collection at Monk Fryston Post Office.

It was once run by the late Geoff Hall, a colourful character who risked being sued by identifying cars speeding through the village.

A parish councillor, he once held a referendum on plans to erect a mobile phone tower. He was in favour of the proposal, but the people voted against it, after which he's said to have wished he had taken the advice of miners' leader Arthur Scargill only to hold a ballot if you know you can win! These days there are a series of editors at the helm.