The Office of Fair Trading has accepted the undertakings offered by Dunfermline Press after its purchase of eight Trinity Mirror titles in Berkshire.

The OFT was concerned that when the Scottish company bought the Slough, Windsor and Eton-based papers, it eliminated all competition between its Observer and Express series.

Dunfermline Press has offered a divestment to another buyer for nearly all the Express titles, thus avoiding a referral to the Competition Commission.

The company proposed Baylis, which owns the Maidenhead Advertiser and is considered the leading player in the Berkshire town.

The move would involve a divestment of all the Express title except its Maidenhead edition.

As a result of the proposal, the OFT said it considered these undertakings showed a clear-cut remedy which restored competition.

The whole divestment process is likely to take place in the next three months.

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