A freelance journalist has been left red-faced after sending out a story out to the nationals that he picked up from the Eastern Daily Press website - complete with the newspaper reporter's byline, website navigation links and even its copyright note.

While following up stories and selling on leads is acknowledged as standard practice, newsdesk staff on the nationals were amazed when the story came down the Newslink wire, having obviously been directly cut-and-pasted from the regional press website.

The story was followed shortly afterwards by a note from Martyn Halle, of Metro News and Features, who said he had sent out the story by mistake.

But Red Williams, syndication editor for the EDP's publisher Archant, had already been alerted and said the move had taken his breath away.

He is in charge of sending stories from the group onto the nationals, and last year brought in £125,000 by selling stories from its four dailies and numerous weeklies to other publications.

He told HoldtheFrontPage: "Even the nationals couldn't believe it.

"Normally you might get a story, re-write it, freshen it up and get your own quotes, but I've not heard of this before.

"We won't tolerate what is effectively daylight robbery."

However Martyn said the story had gone out by mistake and he had subsequently followed it up.

He said: "I do pick up the odd story from the regional press but I mainly do health features for the nationals.

"I sent it out by mistake and then put a note out to say it had been sent in error and to kill it."

Red added: "The syndication service is going very well and is getting stronger by the minute.

"It is an important source of extra revenue for the group."