AFTER 152 years as a broadsheet, a small change is coming to your favourite evening newspaper .

You may have spotted the clues in Examiner adverts over the last week: Stand by for some BIG news.

Well today, we can reveal the Huddersfield Daily Examiner is soon to have a new compact size.

The change takes place two weeks today and will mean more pages, more colour and more news, sport and features - for you the reader.

The decision has not been taken lightly but market research showed over 70 per cent of you wanted your local newspaper to be compact. It was research we had to listen to.

But one thing you can be sure of is that the new format will make no difference to the quality of journalism or standards of reporting you have known over the years.

In fact, we're hoping you'll like it better because there will be improved colour and content throughout the week. And it will be a lot easier to handle on the bus or in the armchair.

Once upon a time, to go compact was to go down-market. Not any more.

The Times and The Independent have already done so, to popular acclaim - and now it's our turn.

When we started back in 1852, we had advertisements on the front page and published once a week.

Since then, we have recorded hatches, matches and despatches - that's Births, Marriages and Deaths to the uninitiated - and everything else from village fetes to sport to disaster.

Throughout our history, we have striven to serve the community with fair minded journalism.

For generations, the Examiner has been more than a newspaper to its readers - to many it has become an integral part of their life.

One thing we have never done is stand still and the newspaper has evolved.

Eighteen months ago, we re-launched with new features and content.

Today we take the next logical step with a compact, easy-to-read format, more colour, more pages and more new ideas in how to present and cover the news and issues that matter to the people of Huddersfield and surrounding districts.

You will notice the front page masthead has an addition: an image of Castle Hill, specially designed by international artist Ashley Jackson, to show our commitment to our roots.

Our unrivalled coverage of local arts, sport and news will continue and be expanded.

Our features, as always, will reflect modern life and human interest.

Small really can be beautiful. Believe me, I know.

The new Examiner will be easier to read on the bus without punching the lady sitting next to you, and becomes a perfect companion for armchair browsing at home.

What else can you buy for 35p that packs so much entertainment and information and gives you a platform, in the expanding Letters to the Editor column, to have your voice on what you consider matters?

A local newspaper is important for a community and a town. It acts as safeguard and watchdog and is the recorder of local history. It also has to be entertaining and fulfilling and we think we have a product that meets all those needs.

If we haven't, we know you will tell us!

Like Huddersfield, the Examiner is proud of its past and confident of its future in its new, dynamic compact form.

If you would like to sample how the new Examiner will look, pop into our office in Queen Street South. There's a comment book so please give us your views. Alternatively write to Compact Examiner, Readers' Views, Huddersfield Daily Examiner, PO Box A26, Queen Street South, Huddersfield HD1 2TD and we'll send one out. You can view some of the pages on our internet site ic.huddersfield.co.uk