Archant's Bexley Times has been relaunched as free paper to reach a wider audience.

The title will now be delivered to 70,000 homes every Thursday as well as continuing to be on sale in newsagents.

Its last ABC figure was 3,408.

As part of the move its sister free paper, The Bexley Express, will no longer be published and will instead be incorporated into the Times.

Readers who had previously had the Express delivered on a Wednesday will now receive a copy of the Times on a Thursday.

The Times has also been given a new look for the relaunch, and includes news, showbiz, campaigns, competitions, entertainment, more reader letters and a revamped sports section.

Kentish Times Newspapers' group editor Melody Ryall said the Times would retain the feel of a paid-for.

She said: "Over the last few months we have asked readers what they'd like to see in their local newspaper and the new Bexley Times is the result.

"It will dovetail wonderfully into our news driven website, www.bexleytimes.co.uk, and aims to offer readers and advertisers so much more. It is a local paper with a big personality - just like the calibre of the communities we aim to reach."

The areas which the title will cover include Welling, Crayford, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Belvedere, Erith, Sidcup, Blackfen and Eltham.

The team focusing on the new title includes deputy editor Sarah McLeod, sub-editor Sara Case, news editor Kate Mead, reporters Emma Durdle and Lisa Jarvis, sports editor Stuart Henderson and sports reporters Neil McKeown and Paul Green.

The Bexley Times is the second title in the Kentish Times series to go paid/free after The Bromley Times was relaunched in February.