A Scottish daily and its sister Sunday title have decided to be classed as regional newspapers for the purposes of auditing their circulation figures.

Glasgow-based The Herald and the Sunday Herald have been classed as national papers by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, but neither appears in this month’s listings.

The Newquest titles have now been designated as regional newspapers, with the switch understood to have been made at the request of the company.

Sales figures for the papers will now be published every six months like other local and regional titles in the UK, with the latest figures due to be released on 29 August.

The latest figures for the national titles show average sales at The Scotsman were down 11pc year-on-year and stand at 36,170 for the period February to July this year, compared to 40,825 last year.

Its Scotland on Sunday sister title saw its circulation fall 14pc, from 52,993 to 45,382.