Your Hastings and Rye Observer is in shops now

This week’s edition marks a full year since the country went into its first national lockdown.

Our special two-page feature in today’s Observer reflects on how Hastings and Rye has coped amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

We also highlight how the community has come together over the last 12 months.

In other news in today’s paper, tributes have been paid to a popular Hastings man who ‘touched so many people’s lives’, who died suddenly aged 49.

A woman has also been arrested for assaulting a police officer at an anti-lockdown protest in Alexandra Park on Sunday (March 21). The full story is in this week’s edition.

Hastings’ Queens Arcade – the birthplace of television – has also been sold in an online auction. Full reaction to the news can be found in today’s Observer.

* Got a story? Ring reporters Richard Gladstone on 07803 505794 or Stephen Wynn-Davies on 07393 754494.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.