Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has reported a 10pc year-on-year drop in revenues for the first four months of the year ahead of its annual general meeting today.

However the rate of circulation revenue decline appears to be falling, with a 13pc drop in January and February partly offset by a fall of just 3pc in March and April.

In an interim management statement published ahead of today’s AGM, the company attributed the improvement in performance to cover price increases and “strong circulation volume performance.”

The statement showed that over the whole 17-week period to 28 April, circulation revenues declined by 8pc while advertising revenues were down 13pc.

It said:  “Revenue trends have improved over the 17 week period, despite the trading environment remaining challenging.

“In particular, we are pleased with the improving circulation revenue trends with the rate of decline falling to 3pc in March and April reflecting the benefit of cover price increases and strong circulation volume performance.”

Under the new ‘One Trinity Mirror’ philosophy of chief executive Simon Fox, the company no longer publishes separate performance figures for its regional and national titles.

The statement also reveals that the company has applied to have two civil claims made against it alleging phone hacking struck out by the courts as having “no reasonable prospect of success.”