The compact Press and Journal is to become a permanent fixture on a Saturday.

Publishers of the Aberdeen-based daily say that a trial period of the new format has been so well received that a firm decision has now been made to keep the new size.

The first issue of the compact Press and Journal, which is currently still broadsheet five days a week, was unveiled four months ago, and sold more than 7,000 extra copies on that day.

This was soon followed with an in-paper questionnaire which sought readers' views on the new format, and the vast majority of the 4,000 responses received were positive.

Editor Derek Tucker said: "The research showed that most people felt we had kept our promise that the quality of coverage would remain the same as in our Monday to Friday broadsheet version, while many commented on the compact being much easier to handle.

"The Press and Journal is proud of its position as the most popular newspaper in the north of Scotland and will continue to reflect the needs and desires of its readers for many, many years to come."

The compact transformation followed earlier research by the paper, which showed its broadsheet size was becoming an obstacle to gaining new readers.

It also launched a new 16-page TV pull-out this week, with seven-day TV and radio listings, following requests from readers.

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