Just 18 weeklies boosted by sales increase

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by Helen Lambourne Published 25 Aug 2010

Only 18 paid-for weekly papers throughout England, Wales and Scotland saw increases in circulation for the first six months of the year.

The latest ABC figures from January to June show the majority of papers had a decline in sales, a number of these in double figures.

But some titles which were fully paid for did see improvements with the highest of these being recorded by the Staffordshire-based Leek Post and Times, up 12.5pc to 11,738.

Six weekly titles in Yorkshire saw increases, including the Batley and Birstall News at 6pc and the Malton and Pickering Mercury at 4.3pc

Other good increases were recorded by the Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser at 4.1pc and the West Sussex Gazette and South Of England Advertiser at 4.3pc.

ABC figures: How the regional dailies performed

Just 18 weeklies boosted by sales increase

ABC figures: How the UK’s weekly newspapers fared

ABC online: Newspaper websites reveal their hand

Latest ABCs for Northern Ireland

Two Scottish titles had increases – the Glenrothes Gazette at 2.1pc and the Hawick News and Scottish Border Chronicle at 0.2pc.

And the only Welsh fully paid-for weekly to see an increase was the Barry & District News at 2pc.

Those with the largest decrease in circulation included the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide at 21.2pc, the Monmouth Free Press at 18.6pc and the Medway Messenger at 18.5pc.

The full list of 100pc paid-for weeklies which increased their sales is as follows:

England

Leek Post and Times 11,738 +12.5pc

Batley and Birstall News 6,656 +6pc

Malton and Pickering Mercury 2,781 +4.3pc

West Sussex Gazette and South Of England Advertiser 6,700 +4.3pc

Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser 8,601 +4.1pc

Longridge and Ribble Valley News and Advertiser 3,162 +3.2pc

Rugby Advertiser 10,144 +1.6pc

Harwich and Manningtree Standard 6,077 +1.2pc

Whitchurch Herald 3,912 +0.7pc

Harrogate Advertiser 13,992 +0.6pc