The Dunfermline Press group has bought three Scottish weeklies for an undisclosed fee.

The East Lothian Courier, which covers Haddington, the Galashiels-based Border Telegraph and its sister paper the Peeblesshire News, comprised the last family-owned weekly group in the Borders area.

Dunfermline Press chief executive Deirdre Romanes said: "We have paid a generous price in a competitive arena to make this purchase but were committed to bringing these three well-established titles into our stable.

"Well though they serve their communities just now, we do see opportunities to enhance their appeal even further among readers and advertisers alike."

The Dunfermline Press Group and its sister company Clyde & Forth Press publish the Greenock Telegraph, together with 16 paid weekly and four free weekly newspapers throughout Scotland.

They have a total readership in excess of 454,000 adults across Scotland. Clyde & Forth Press also publishes titles in Berkshire.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk