An outraged deputy editor has hit out at national newspapers stealing stories from local papers and claiming them as their own "exclusives".

Kevin Ward of the South Wales Argus spoke out after two of its major stories were picked up by the nationals - in a bid to remind readers who got there first.

The Argus ran a story ridiculing the way the "big boys" were culling stories from the regions after two of its sports exclusives were stolen from its pages.

Last Wednesday the Argus revealed that Mark Hughes' Wales soccer team had agreed to play a summer friendly against the USA in San Jose.

Two days later the story appeared as the back page lead of the Daily Mirror labelled "exclusive".

And last Thursday the Argus broke the news that the Welsh Rugby Union had a £66m debt and was close to its £9m overdraft limit, putting the future of the national sport in doubt.

Three days later the story was on the front and back pages of the Welsh edition of the News of the World, again labelled as an "exclusive".

Kevin said: "We all know the nationals steal stories from the regions every day - I think it's what their reporters call 'research'. But to claim someone else's hard work as an 'exclusive' is outrageous.

"It has happened to us a few times but last week we decided enough was enough and reminded our readers where the stories came from first.

"Anyone who reads our paper and the magpie nationals must share our incredulity at their bare-faced cheek. Perhaps we should charge them lineage!"

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk