The Archant media group has announced pre-tax profits for the first half of the year of £16.6m - up 17.6 per cent.

Turnover was up 19.3 per cent at £92.3m and group operating profit was up 16.2 per cent at £16.4m.

Archant chairman, Richard Jewson said: "Given a strong economy and the group's progress in the first half of the year, the board expects that continued growth can be achieved in the second half.

"We look forward to the conclusion of the Competition Commission's inquiry in October and we continue to consider a range of growth opportunities."

The 27 newspaper titles acquired from Independent News and Media (INM), for which Archant recently received provisional clearance from the Competition Commission, generated revenue of £8.7m and £1.8m operating profit to the end of 2003.

Overall, the company's newspapers and printing operating profit increased by 18.9 per cent to £18.4m.

Archant's newspaper and printing revenue saw a rise of 18.3 per cent at £78m, with strong advertising revenue growth in most categories.

Its interim financial report to shareholders said that Archant Life, the regional magazine business, was continuing to make good progress, adding Brighton & Hove Life to its portfolio in the south east. Archant Life profits at the half-year were £0.5m more than at the same point in 2003.

Archant Specialist was also continuing to make progress.

Archant currently produces four daily regional newspapers, including the Eastern Daily Press and the East Anglian Daily Times, and more than 85 weekly newspapers.

It also publishes around 60 magazines and 40 websites.

It employs more than 2,500 people around England and Scotland and its head office is in Norwich.

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