The Wellington Weekly News has joined Tindle Newspapers in a deal with Northcliffe Newspapers.

The Wellington weekly, which was launched in 1860, sells in a wide area of Wellington and district south and west of Taunton and has its base in Wellington town centre.

Tindle Newspapers already publishes more than 200 titles, many of them 100 years old.

The acquisition of the 4,120-selling paper was completed late yesterday and staff were due to meet the three new directors of the company, Sir Ray Tindle, Brian Doel and Wendy Craig today.

Sir Ray Tindle said he was "delighted" that this long-established newspaper was to be part of his family group.

Tindle managing director Brian Doel said the Wellington weekly was a model of what a local community newspaper should be.

Northcliffe's Jacquie Dean said that the company was very happy that this "much loved local newspaper" would be in Tindle's safe hands.

Northcliffe will retain a minority share in the new company, and provide some production facilities and expertise.

The Tindle Newspaper Group is acclaimed throughout the industry for achievements with development of local newspapers. Other old-established Tindle papers in the area include the Pulman’s Weekly News series, based on Axminster in Devon, and the West Somerset Free Press at Williton in Somerset.