A pic that sums up the demise of our local press

I took this picture last year in Kent (Margate, I think). I am not sure whether it was an old newsagent's shop or newspaper office but it somehow seemed to sum up the plight of our local papers.

Now Press Gazette reports today that Northcliffe has closed one of the papers emblazoned on the front of the building -  the 116 year-old Thanet Times.

Press Gazette says the Times was one of seven titles that Northcliffe tried selling to rival publisher the KM Group before the deal was scuppered by the Office of Fair Trading last October.

But according to the Thanet Life blog the Times may have a new life online.

• The Thanet Times was known for its tabloid-style headlines under editor Mike Pearce, who edited the title for 20 years until 2004.  They included Napoleon Blown Apart - When the Napoleonic festival in Thanet was ruined due to a storm. Elephant Ate My Pigeon  - A pigeon racer's bird was killed by an elephant at the local zoo. French nickers - When French exchange students rampaged through Margate shops.