The Newtownabbey Times is a local newspaper which has been circulated around the area for over 100…read moreyears. It is published by Johnston Press plc. (One of the top 3 largest local newspaper publishers in the UK) It's sister papers include the Carrickfergus and Larne Times, each with their own offices in the respective areas. Together they have been reporting news stories around the East Antrim area since the 1860s. Focusing mainly on local news, it is a valuable source of community information and news updates. It is currently published every Thursday and coverage includes news, sports, health and education amongst a number of contemporary news stories or reviews. For more information or to contact the newspaper, email susan.gillen@jpress.co.uk or send your letters to Newtownabbey Times, 14 Portland Avenue, Glengormley, Newtownabbey, BT36 5EY. Telephone: 028 9084 3621

Newtownabbey Times includes stories from all across the area - from Ballyduff to Ballyclare, from…read moreCarnmoney to Templepatrick, and from Glengormley to Jordanstown. It's comprehensive coverage mean that it's a) quite an in-depth paper (certainly not on par with The Sun etc), and b) it takes quite a while to read (not such a good idea when on a hot, stuffy bus from Ballyclare to Belfast, with ten screaming teenagers arguing over whether it's a bikelist or a cyclist...). I did, however, come across a few interesting nuggets of information. For example, who knew that there even was a Women's Rugby World Cup, let alone the fact that one of Ireland's players comes from Whiteabbey? Or indeed that there is a singing group known as the Belfast Phoenix Choir? My life has been greatly enhanced thanks to these wonderful pieces of completely useful information. As well as the news section, the Newtownabbey Times has a rather amusing birthday component (one particular vengeful twin used this to her advantage), as well as a jobs section (Primark are looking Christmas staff already?!), business news, a sports section, property news, a careers / training / education insert, and a lengthy motorcar segment. All in all, not a bad paper.

Moore's reminds me of my childhood, any time I even step foot in the shop it brings memories…read morerushing back of being a teeny tiny child, smaller than the shop counter (seems crazy these days) fluttering my eyelashes and asking my daddy oh so innocently and sweetly for some pocket money so I could buy a quarter of the delightful sweeties they sold. Then I'd proceed to stand around for ages trying to decide what to pick, as they had honestly, what seemed like thousands of options to choose from. (Ah the exaggerations of child hood, I haven't quite grown out of that!) In the end I always choose either a quarter of strawberry bon bons or oh the deliciously delightful Jameson's Raspberry Ruffles in the end. I don't know why he put up with it. Maybe it's his sweet tooth. So to this day I still love pushing open the door and hearing the ding of the shop bell, my dad still goes to the counter, does the Lottery, buys his cigs and scratchcards and I still buy a quarter of those heavenly sweets. I don't get pocket money any more though. More's the pity! Great corner shop selling a wide range of magazines, cards for all occasions, toys galore and the sweeties, oh the sweeties! It's somewhat similar to sugar heaven!

The merville is a great newsagents and is a quick and quiet place to nip into and get served. Good…read moreparking right in front of the shop. Lottery and ice cream counter as well as sweets and crisps, sandwiches too.

Auto Trader is Northern Ireland's biggest and best used car directory. It comes out every Thursday…read moreand is reasonably priced at £2.20! Unlike something like the ads for free, where I think the print version is made redundant by its online counterpart, I feel for the Auto Trader both sections are valid and complement each other well. The magazine provides an extensive rage range of every type of vehicle under the sun that will come at a wide variety of ages and prices. The magazine is good be\cause if you get it first thing on a Thursdday morning when it comes out you can hopefully beat off the competition to any bargains. The layout is clear and good, and there is always a great variety on display. Unfortunately the paper can attract a lot of tyre-kickers as my father who regularly advertises in this magazine will profess! Advertising rates are reasonable and the photography teams will come out to you and take pictures of your cars if you don't have the time which is good for a busy bee like my dad!

Every young boy at some point gets bored and has read an Auto Trader from cover to cover... Don't…read morewe? To be honest I looked at the majority of the pictures and decided there and then if they were worth my Dad showing any interest. Turned out he didn't want to buy a car, nor did he want my opinion. Insert sad face. The Auto Trader is the biggest selling car magazine in all of the country and when you buy it you can see why. It is choc-a-block with any number of cars, lorries, quad bikes etc. All used. All Northern Irish. The internet, as Nick rightly said, is having a much more exciting time with buying and selling cars than it used to so the future of Auto Trader may not be as secure as it used to be. However, from working in a part-time job in which we sold this magazine, there was rarely a time any magazines were returned to the supplier. It has everything you need as well as information about the vehicles and a contact number in case you are interested. Perhaps this time next year magazines will be something of a distant memory like VHS, yo-yos and Destiny's Child. But for now Auto Trader is a great magazine and is definitely worth a look if you are interested in buying or selling any vehicles.

Despite sounding like it could (and should) be me, Local Shopper is actually a free publication…read morethat provides a 'platform' (their words, not mine) for local businesses to advertise and offer deals to prospective clientele. Good idea, eh? Delivered by the Royal Mail once monthly to 207,000 homes and businesses in the Belfast, Bangor, Newtownabbey and Lisburn areas, there are different versions of the Local Shopper for each particular neighbourhood. For example, the one I receive is delivered to 13,500 homes in the Braniel, Tullycarnet, Gilnahirk and Dundonald areas, and is tweaked to suit our area, with adverts from the likes of Papa Johns in Dundonald, Envy tanning and beauty in Ballybeen and Gilnahirk Tyres and Exhausts. Not only do each of these businesses get a decent sized ad in this eight page magazine, but many of these ads double up as coupons / money-off vouchers for that particular company. Fun Works in Glengormley (one of very few businesses which isn't that nearby) are offering 20% off when you produce their ad, whilst the Green Energy Store in Bangor are promoting their business with £200 off selected energy store systems. Local Shopper is a great idea for local businesses, but also for the prospective customers. Good work!

The Local Shopper is a little advertisement free sheet which is popped in the door of of over…read more200,00 Belfast homes every month. It is quite informative and is tailored to suit your area. The businesses are actually quite useful, they'll let you know about skips for hire in your area, great deals on electrical goods and some great deals and vouchers for pizzas. As far as most advertisement free sheets go, this is a quality one worth reading instead of chucking in the bin.