An award-winning student newspaper has closed down following “non-payment of debts”.

Edinburgh title The Journal is reported to have ceased trading earlier this year and a liquidator has been appointed.

The independent title, which was formed in 2007, was a fortnightly newspaper produced by students at seven universities and colleges across the city, including the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.

The Journal won prizes at the NUS Scotland Awards in 2012 and the Scottish Student Journalism Awards in the same year, while also being nominated for a host of other awards.

But its website has now been shut down and content posted on there can no longer be viewed.

A spokesman for the liquidator told The Herald: “Stuart Preston of Grant Thornton UK LLP was appointed Interim Liquidator of The Edinburgh Journal Ltd by interlocutor of the Sheriff of Lothian and Borders at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on July 23, 2015.

“A meeting of creditors was subsequently held on August 18, 2015 and Stuart Preston was appointed as liquidator of the company.

“The liquidator understands the business ceased to trade earlier this year and a winding up petition was lodged following non-payment of debts.

“The liquidator is investigating the affairs of the company in order to achieve the best possible outcome for creditors and other stakeholders.”

The Journal was distributed at a number of locations across Edinburgh’s universities and colleges and is understood to have had a print run of 10,000 at one stage.

Those who contributed content to the paper included former First Minister Alex Salmond.