The Government is asking for views on the proposed sale of a free monthly newspaper to the Northcliffe group.

The Hornsea Post is run by a husband and wife team and is distributed to more than 8,500 homes in Hornsea and surrounding villages within an eight-mile radius.

The sale would not have to be referred to the Competition Commission for a decision but the Department of Trade and Industry would have to be satisfied it would not put constraints on the presentation of news and free expression of opinion in the area, or operate against the public interest.

The newspaper, which is published on the fourth Wednesday of every month, was established November 1987.

It is run by husband and wife partnership Douglas and Jill Orry, both local people.

Jill writes the editorial and edits copy from the local correspondents, while Douglas takes the pictures and is responsible for the advertising. Estimated readership is put at 25,000.

Newspapers already distributing in the East Riding area of Yorkshire include Northcliffe's own daily East Riding Mail and weekly Advertiser series, and a free broadsheet, the East Riding Gazette, produced by the Holderness Gazette.

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