OXFORD’S The Phoenix has today become the first independent comic in the UK to publish 300 issues for 40 years.

Founded by children’s book editor and publisher David Fickling, The Phoenix is a weekly comic aimed at ages six to 12 and launched with its first issue in January 2012.

Produced at an office in Beaumont Street, it features serialised adventure stories, original comics, non-fiction and puzzles from creators across the UK.

Over the years it has won high praise from Father Ted writer Graham Lineham, comedian Chris Addison and children's author Jacqueline Wilson OBE.

Editor Tom Fickling, son of the comic's founder, said: "We are delighted to celebrate reaching 300 issues.

"One of the reasons why I think The Phoenix is so successful is because we’ve always focussed on high-quality content.

"It's an incredible feeling to know we’ve published so many excellent stories on a weekly basis which has got children reading, across the country."

The cover of issue 300 has been illustrated by regular contributor Neill Cameron, who is also behind regular strips Mega Robo Bros and The Pirates of Pangaea.

It also features a new story from 12-year-old Orlando Treille, winner of of The Phoenix’s ‘Star in a Comic’ competition which launched earlier this year.

The competition gave a reader the chance to be the hero in their very own comic story that would be published over four weeks in The Phoenix.

Orlando, from West London, won the contest with a story about a mysterious jacket that turns its wearer into a superhero.

Looking ahead to 2018 the next 100 issues, Mr Fickling said: "The Phoenix’s main purpose is to be an entertaining weekly comic, but it is also a wonderful tool for getting children reading and comics are an amazing way to do non-fiction in a way that children love."

From next year, he revealed, the comic will start a new regular feature all about the science of human genetics.

He said: "We have been working with some of the top scientists at the Centre of Human Genetics at Oxford University on a new story on DNA.

"From 2018, using the power of comics, we will be publishing STEM material in an innovative way to get children reading and learning."

The Phoenix will also continue to feature stories from regular contributors including Jamie Smart (Bunny vs Monkey, Looshkin), Adam Murphy (Lost Tales, Corpse Talk) and Neill Cameron.

The Phoenix issue 300 is on sale from today at Waitrose and WHSmith in Oxford and online at thephoenixcomic.co.uk