Queen Victoria was on the throne and Viscount Palmerston, a Liberal, was Prime Minister. The year was 1861 and The Barnet Press, the oldest of the titles now owned by North London and Herts newspapers, was born.

The Enfield Gazette was established in 1874 and the Advertiser series was launched in 1979.

Today, more than 140 years after the first of our newspapers rolled off the press, the company is independently owned and continues to publish weekly newspapers, supplements and magazines and runs its own websites.

Our newspapers are still breaking exclusives week after week and offering online news at www.northlondon-today.co.uk The group is proud of its campaigning tradition, putting north Londoners at the top of the agenda. Our reporters work hard ensuring that what matters most to our readers is covered. Every week we provide the latest sports news and interviews, local news, comment, pictures and features.

The papers also carry our entertainment section, covering north London's thriving arts and entertainment scene. The papers also cover food and drink reviews from local restaurants. All our papers carry thriving classified, recruitment, property and retail advertising sections.

Week after week we also run superb reader offers, offering good-value holidays, cheap flights and bargain breaks, and these are also available via our website.

North London and Herts Newspapers conforms to the newspaper industry's voluntary Code of Practice, administered by the Press Complaints Commission. If you feel we have made an error in a report or have fallen below our usual high standards, please write in the first instance to: Greg Fidgeon, Editor, North London and Herts Newspapers, 187 Baker Street, Enfield, London, EN1 3JT. Tel: 020 8367 2345.

The PCC code of practice, along with details of how to complain, is available from Halton House, 20/23 High Holborn, London EC1N 2JD. Website www.pcc.org.uk or email complaints@pcc.org.uk Telephone: 020 7831 0022. Helpline: 0845 600 2757.