Your Hastings and Rye Observer is in shops now

This week the Observer reveals how more than a third of close contacts of people with coronavirus are still not being reached by the test and trace system in East Sussex.

The full story is in today’s paper.

A Hastings music venue is also in ‘imminent danger’ of closing permanently unless the community rallies behind it as part of a national campaign that has been launched to save grassroots music venues. Read the full story in today’s paper.

An online shopping centre which advertises all the local, independent retailers in Hastings and St Leonards which you can help support during these tough times has also been launched.

The full story is featured in today’s paper, along with our special double-page feature on our #supportlocal campaign.

You can also read how the community has marked this year’s Remembrance Sunday through scaled-down services amid the ongoing pandemic. See inside today’s paper for pictures.

There is also a double-page feature full of tips, advice and support to help you get through this second lockdown.

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.