Four out of every ten members of the National Union of Journalists are now women, according to its latest figures.

The union says that more than twice as many women joined the NUJ as men last year, with total membership increasing for the fifth year running.

Figures for the year to September 30 show the union now has 36,021 members - an increase of 483 - 340 of which were women.

General secretary Jeremy Dear said: "Yet again we have put on members. Our total has gone up by more than 4,000 over the last five years.

"Campaigns around equal pay, bullying and campaigns against low pay in local newspapers are among the factors which have helped achieve the new figures."

Provincial newspapers is the fastest-growing sector, with 240 new members this year and 5,618 in total - second only to freelances.

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