A weekly newspaper series is to move offices to accommodate the launch of a new local TV channel, it has been announced.

After more than 30 years at its current base in Abingdon, the Oxfordshire Guardian will be based at Hawksworth Business Park in Didcot from mid-March.

Howard Taylor, who owns the paper, said the bigger offices were needed as the paper will work in partnership with That’s Oxford TV.

The local channel was awarded a licence in November by Ofcom and is due to go live early next year.

Said Howard:  “We are going to be working very closely with them in the coming months, and we needed to have a joint newsroom and studio area.

“This new building will provide those. In addition, Didcot is a thriving town central to south Oxfordshire and will provide us with greater opportunities.”

The move comes after the re-launch of sister title the Oxford Journal, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last week with a commemorative edition.

The Oxford Journal celebrates its 40th anniversary with a commemorative edition

The edition features a history of the paper’s origins, as well as quirky tales from over the years and pictures of celebrities such as Noel Edmonds taking up a copy.

Howard decided to bring the title back into publication after buying back his old firm TriMedia Newspapers, which went into administration in October, under the new company name Taylor Newspapers.

The buy-back secured 21 jobs, including four journalists, and prompted the hiring of two more to add to the team.

The Oxford Journal will also relocate from its current base at the Guardian offices in Abingdon to new offices in Garsington Road, within the boundaries of the Oxford ring road, as of February 1.

To begin with, content will be provided by Guardian reporters but Howard says he hopes to set up a separate team in future.