The editor of a weekly newspaper has threatened his rival with legal action after stories and quotes were lifted word for word from his publication.

The row blew up after the Somerset Standard, owned by Northcliffe Newspapers, set up a district edition in the patch covered by Newsquest's Wiltshire Times.

The new Warminster and Westbury Standard was accused of using words from the previous week's edition of its rival.

Wiltshire Times editor Toby Granville decided that imitation was the sincerest form of flattery - but felt he needed to make a stand.

He wrote to his opposite number at the Standard, Joanna Roughton, threatening legal action - and to charge her for the lineage used. She has since apologised by telephone for what happened.

Joanna told Holdthefrontpage: "It is absolutely not our policy to condone this practice and steps have been taken to ensure it will not happen again."

Toby's letter said: "While imitation is the highest form of flattery, I have noticed that several of your articles in this week's edition of Warminster & Westbury Standard are complete copies of pieces published by the Wiltshire Times on July 2.

"I am therefore warning you to cease this practice immediately. We will be scrutinising your publication each week for other lifts, and if this continues we will be taking legal advice and will bill you for any content used."

He found a page eight Standard story 'Residential Home Would Generate Jobs' which, apart from the intro, duplicated his page lead 'Scheme To Build Home For Elderly' word for word.

A page six page lead 'Death Valley Funds Delayed By Red Tape', repeated an entire quote made by police Sgt Blencowe, which was lifted from the Times's 'More Injured At Crash Blackspot' article last week.

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