An industry body is fighting to save the newspaper registration service - which allows newspapers to be sent by post at a specially reduced rate.

It was set up to enable publishers to reach readers living in remote areas not well served by newsagents.

The Royal Mail is planning to cut the service, which allows first class delivery at a second class rate.

It is currently relied upon by over 90 per cent of UK regional and local newspapers and their readers.

The Newspaper Society has written to Adam Crozier, chief executive of the Royal Mail, regarding the proposed withdrawal of the service, which has been in place since the mid-1800s.

Some 100,000 copies are sent each week via the Newspaper Registration Service.

The Society does not believe the service should be withdrawn and points out that any such changes making access to regional newspapers more difficult and leading to reduced sales and lost readers, would have a detrimental effect on the industry - and would be a cause for public concern.

The letter, from Society director David Newell, said: "The Newspaper Society does not believe that the Newspaper Registration Service should be withdrawn for newspapers and is deeply concerned about the damage such a withdrawal could cause to regional newspapers and their readers, particularly in rural communities.

"It is surprised that a proposal to withdraw the service should have been floated informally without an initial, direct approach to the Newspaper Society and without regard to the historic basis of the service, under which many titles have been registered for hundreds of years and rely on this long-term relationship with the Royal Mail.

"Small newsagents are reportedly closing at a rate of 356 a year - almost one a day. Postal subscriptions are often the only viable option for readers to obtain their local newspaper."

He added that many titles had small distribution budgets and would not be able to absorb the additional cost of moving to first class postage rates. Passing the increased cost on to readers would lead to cancelled subscriptions and lost sales.

David said: "The Newspaper Registration Service is one of the structures on which regional newspapers serving rural communities have built their businesses. Its withdrawal would be devastating for many of these newspapers and would threaten a lifeline of local news and information for many readers across the UK."

A copy of the letter, calling for a meeting with the Royal Mail, has been sent to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, the Minister for Postal Services, the chair of Postcomm, and the national chair of the PostWatch Council.

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