A former weekly editor is helping launch a new hyperlocal title covering the City of London – with Fleet Street at the heart of its patch.

City Matters will have a weekly print run of 20,000 and will be distributed at 17 tube and overground stations as well as other locations across the city.

The free title is the brainchild of publisher Roy Court, a former proprietor of the City of Islington News, and Tom Oxtoby, a former editor of the Woking News and Mail.

They believe City Matters, which will have a five-strong editorial team, will fill a local news gap for an area which currently has no dedicated title covering general news.

Said Roy: “The lack of a hyperlocal newspaper in the City is something that took us by surprise when we started exploring the idea of creating a new publication.

“It’s criminal when you consider that St Bride’s Church – the spiritual home of media in this country – is within the City’s borders.”

“There are people behind other titles who will argue their publication addresses the needs of the City, but some dance on the national stage and others are niche products catering to the select few.

“Are the needs of City residents being met? They are in City Matters and that is why we are here.”

As well as the resident population of 10,000 who live in the City of London, the title will aim to appeal to some of the 400,000 who work there each day.

The first issue is due to hit the streets on 22 September.

Said Tom: “Things have been non-stop in the lead-up to our first edition hitting the streets, and the excitement at HQ is now palpable.

“The City of London is an area of rich heritage with an alluring history, and it will be a fantastic adventure to weave ourselves into its great tapestry.”