THE first edition of the Somerset County gazette rolled off the press on December 31, 1836.

It was ‘Established by public subscription of the nobility, gentry, and inhabitants of Somerset, to supply its commerce and agriculture with a general medium for communication and advertisement’.

Throughout good times and bad we have sought to chronicle the lives and loves, births and deaths, triumphs and disasters of the people of Taunton and surrounding towns and villages.

We have sought to hold those in power to account, ensured justice is seen to be done, while highlighting the amazing things people do every day of the week.

Many things have changed in the nearly 179 years the paper has been at the heart of the community, - but our aim remains the same – to bring you the news that matters and provide a platform for our advertisers to get their message to our readers.

Today marks a new beginning for the County Gazette.

We have given the paper a new look with great new sections, including a leisure guide, business, country, nostalgia, country news and court reports.

Our revamped website countygazette.co.uk is also getting a bright, fresh look and aims to bring you the news every minute of the day, every day of the week.

We hope you like it but, as ever, we would also love to hear your thoughts about your paper and what else you would like to see in the County Gazette.

Liz Bond, publisher