The launch of a new newspaper in the Basingstoke Gazette series has helped take sales to 27,000 with the first issue.

The Tadley Gazette is, in fact, an edition of the Friday main paper but The Gazette team has worked hard on giving it an identity of its own.

There are nine change pages in all, with seven being swapped in the news section and two in sport.

Gazette editor Bill Browne said: "We waited with baited breath for the first figures to come out and we were absolutely delighted when they were released."

Tadley is the strongest of the towns surrounding Basingstoke and the move is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen the newspaper sale in the area.

The launch was preceded by leafleting 10,000 homes in the area.

Said Bill: "We've picked up some extra advertising in the area, canvassing is going well and the general reaction has been very favourable.

"The sale of The Gazette had been averaging increases of four per cent, but this first week of the Tadley Gazette saw the increase move to eight per cent It's just a fantastic and deserved result for a team that is working so hard."

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