Town councillors believe they are the first in the country to produce a quarterly glossy magazine as part of their duty to keep people informed of what they are doing.

Dover Life is the title of the new publication which is being distributed free throughout the town to residents and visitors.

The first edition was launched on Thursday at the town council offices, and guests were told that the entire print run of 5,000 copies had already gone.

“I think that speaks for itself,” said Mayor Cllr Diane Smallwood. “It has been very successful and we are delighted to be a part of it.”

It is being published by Graphic Images, of Castle Street, and the first edition includes an article on Dover-born premiership football referee David Elleray, a profile of Chris Pascall of English Heritage, the history of the hovercraft, a recipe for roasted partridge with mushrooms and a feature on the Drop Redoubt.

Cllr Jan Tranter said the magazine had evolved from a discussion at a council meeting about the need for a newsletter. “It is quite a glossy venture,” she said.

“We want to get across what the town council is doing and we want councillors to be a part of it.”

Town Clerk Mike Webb said the council was obliged to communicate with Dovorians and he said they were grateful to the local media for their help with that.

“It’s difficult to reach out. What the council is doing does not take up all the pages, but we are the backbone of it. There is some important information in there and a lot about the town council, but not too much.”

Future editions would include articles on the Deputy Constable of Dover Castle and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, he said.

Copies are being distributed by town councillors to people in their wards, as well as at the cruise terminal, hotels and the council offices at Whitfield.

“We are unique in the country for a town council to produce something like this and we have had national inquiries about how the council has been so innovative,” said Mr Webb.