There's not many that can claim to have been around in the time of Charles Dickens, the sinking of the Titanic, both World Wars, the Moon landings and 9/11.

But The Birmingham Post - if not its current reporting staff - can. Next month we will be celebrating our 150th anniversary with a number of high profile events to mark this major landmark.

The celebrations are set to cumulate in a special ticket-only gala dinner at which Conservative leader David Cameron will be guest speaker.

A range of other events will also feature, a public photographic exhibition from The Post's archives, the launch of a new annual awards ceremony and a special anniversary souvenir edition of the paper.

Post editor Marc Reeves said: "Since the first edition was pulled from the printing press in 1857, The Birmingham Post has been at the heart of the city community, and we're extremely proud of our long history and the role the paper has played in shaping Birmingham.

"Like the city itself, we continue to change and grow. The last 18 months have seen some major developments, including the relaunch of our high-quality business and lifestyle supplements: CityLiving, Select, Business & Property Review, and Property Magazine.

"We couldn't let our 150th anniversary pass without a big celebration and hope as many of our readers as possible will join us in marking this milestone."

The Post's anniversary celebration is being sponsored by Dandara, developers behind one of the most ambitious new projects planned for Birmingham city centre - the 50-storey "V building".

Michelle Harris, sales and marketing director for Dandara, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the 150th anniversary of The Birmingham Post. When we were offered the opportunity to do so, we had no hesitation in accepting.

"As the voice of Birmingham, The Birmingham Post has played a vital part in the city's history, recording the transformation of the city and its people. It will continue to do so."

Our celebrations kick off on December 4, the day the first copy of the paper came out in 1857, during the heyday of the British Empire.

Significant news at the time included the Indian Mutiny, the laying the first transatlantic cable and the creation of Sheffield Football Club, believed to be the world's first football team.

Closer to home, composer Edward Elgar was born in Worcestershire, a "people's park" company was started as part of a "Save Aston Hall" campaign and John Bright won a by-election in Birmingham.

The Post, then titled the Birmingham Daily Post, was launched as the city's morning broadsheet.

On February 29 next year, a gala dinner will be held in the grandiose setting of Birmingham University's Great Hall to celebrate the vital role the paper has played in the history of the city.

Some 500 guests are expected to attend the evening, at which Mr Cameron will pay tribute to the publication.

The event will also serve as the launchpad of a major new annual awards ceremony by The Birmingham Post which will celebrate those who have made significant contributions to the city.

Based on public nominations, awards will be given to people who have achieved great things in the fields of business, politics, arts and sport.

The Post's photographic exhibition will feature pictures charting Birmingham's history over the last century-and-a-half in various categories. * Tickets for the gala dinner are priced at £150 per head, or £1,500 per table. For more information email Amanda Lane at amanda_lane@mrn.co.uk. For sponsorship, contact John Allen on 0121 234 5785