Larger metropolitan daily newspapers have taken huge strides forward in this period's Audit Bureau of Circulations figures, mostly driven by relaunches and investment.

The Western Mail leads the dailies with a Monday to Friday year-on-year increase of 4.1 per cent and a 3.1 per cent increase Monday to Saturday, having halted decline through a relaunch.

The Liverpool Daily Post, up by 2.4 per cent Monday to Friday and 1.3 per cent Monday to Saturday, has reported its second consecutive increase, also following the relaunch of the newspaper.

All the figures relate to the period January to June 2005.

Georgina Harvey, managing director of Trinity Mirror's Regionals, said: "The latest ABCs are very encouraging for Trinity Mirror.

We've improved our year-on-year performance in three key sectors: mornings, evenings and Sundays. We're particularly pleased with the performance of our morning newspapers, where 50 per cent of our titles have posted year-on-year increases."

She said the company was investing in newspapers, revitalising design, content and format, and gaining some "very good" results.

The Belfast Telegraph has seen considerable developments over the past six months, with the relaunch of the Saturday edition as a compact with an early bird morning edition, and an early morning compact during the week, followed by the broadsheet edition.

These innovations have led to a 1.8 per cent increase Monday to Friday, and a 2.2 per cent increase Monday to Saturday.

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