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<strong>From the desk of the Editor

The Suffolk Gazette is celebrating International Women's Day by allowing women across the world to read the newspaper for FREE.</strong>

For a period of ONE MONTH from midnight tonight, the popular publication is prepared to lose a small fortune in revenues simply to recognise the important role women have played in Suffolk life.



Head of the paper's Equal Opportunities Board, Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: "The Suffolk Gazette has championed women across the county, and hired some of the best female writers for decades, such as the much-missed, late <a href="https://www.suffolkgazette.com/features/lady-garden/photo-neighbours-cock/">In My Lady Garden columnist, Anita Bush</a>.

"But we want to do more to celebrate women and to show our appreciation.

"For that reason, women everywhere will be able to read the Suffolk Gazette for free for a whole month."

Ms Fisher explained that women can walk away with a free print version of the newspaper from any newsagent - while modern-day technology can detect the sex of any visitor to a website.

"We will know if you are a man pretending to be a woman while reading the online news, hoping to get something for nothing. So don't try it."

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Staff at the newspaper, which is read by hundreds of thousands of people a day, hope the initiative will prompt other local businesses to serve women for free.

Steve Walshe, head of finance, said: "This is going to leave a severe hole in our cash flow. But it's important to take a stand.

"We urge colleagues at Adnams to give women free beer, and for local restaurants to allow them to eat for free."

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