My name is Karl Hancock. I launched Nub News because I wanted to give Crewe and towns just like it a voice.

Having been born and brought up on Gresty Road, right outside the Alex, I care about Crewe. After supporting the club all my life, I became a Director of Crewe Alexandra last year.

I've seen the closure and retreat of local newspapers all over the country and I believe there's a need to fill the news vacuum being created in our communities.

When I set up Crewe Nub News just over a year ago, local news reporters had all but moved out.

And this has happened in many towns, in particular the North – the left behind communities where the red wall turned blue at the last General Election.

Many of these towns felt they weren't being listened to by Government and they didn't have a proper local newspaper or website to help fight their corner.

Nub News is helping change that. We hope to give towns a trusted, local voice and we have aims to hold local democracy to account. Our mission is to showcase and highlight everything that is good about the town where local people live and work.

I know our readers love their town, so we reflect that when we write about their homes, their schools and their businesses.

In Crewe, we've had a hugely successful first year. And that would not have been possible without the tremendous support we've had from local people – our readers, our journalists, our community supporters and our corporate sponsors.

From a standing start, Crewe Nub News regularly has around 10,000 readers a week, with 7,000 newsletter subscribers and more than 4,000 social media followers. So, thank you for your support.

I want Nub News to be different from other local newspapers and websites.

Crewe Nub News is dedicated to news from Crewe. You won't read about Sandbach or Congleton or other Cheshire towns. The dozens of stories we publish every week are all about Crewe.

We are not financed by programmable adverts, so we don't need to chase clicks. There's no fake news on Nub News.

We're trying to build trust with readers by championing our town, not constantly dragging it down.

Our journalists know not to write disingenuous headlines that tempt readers into clicking on a story that doesn't deliver.

I want Nub News to replicate local newspapers of 25 years ago – to be trusted champions of their local community.

We care about delivering high quality local news, what's on listings, job ads, properties for sale and obituaries, to the people of Crewe.

We want the people of Crewe to tell their story too. Send us your pictures/memories and special moments. That's why we've created a Nub It! button, allowing local people to submit their stories and promote their events.

We let small independents promote themselves for free, to help local people know what's happening in their town.

I would love to hear what you think about Crewe. This is your town and now this is your Nub News.

Let us know of any specific areas of concern you have and we will look into it. We need to build on your passion for Crewe and harness the values of our town and your pride in all that it does.

Crewe Nub News is only sustainable because of the support and sponsorship it receives from local friends. I'm writing to you now because I want you to recognise that these local businesses support the Nub ambition for Crewe.

For that, all the team at Nub are grateful and I wish to add my personal thanks.

Without them and you, there would be no Crewe Nub News. They all love our town as much as we do, so please support them. Let's come together and keep chasing our dreams for an ever brighter, more prosperous future.

They are…

Radius Payment Solutions, one of Crewe's largest employers, sponsors our news section.

Swansway Garages, a motor dealer with a family tradition and a strong commitment to the local community.

KPI Recruiting, founded on Nantwich Road several years ago and growing rapidly, sponsor our Jobs section.

Weston White Lion, which has seen a recent change of ownership and is my favourite pub in Crewe, sponsor our What's On section.

Stephenson Browne, our exclusive Property section sponsor.

Crewe Funeral Services.Obituaries was the first page my dad used to turn to when he opened his local paper.

Belong Crewe, a dementia care village on Brookhouse Drive.

See the photo gallery of our sponsors above.

Lastly, we have a national partnership with the Co-op who do so much to help causes and charities in towns across the UK. See our Co-op Community section here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Best wishes,

Karl Hancock