Hertfordshire on Sunday has published its last issue, following Herts & Essex Newspapers' decision to close the title.

Earlier this year parent company Iliffe News and Media bought the four-title Hertfordshire series The Advertiser from Observer Standard Newspapers, which covers the same area, and it is understood that the group plans to concentrate on these titles.

Hertfordshire on Sunday had two staff, editor Bridget McAlpine and reporter Daniel Phillips, and they have been redeployed on HEN's flagship title, the Hertfordshire Mercury.

Its last edition was published yesterday.

Since January, the free Hertfordshire on Sunday, which had a circulation of 36,224, had been produced from the group's Hertford office.

It was bought by Iliffe News and Media in August last year, having previously been published by LSN Media Ltd, along with Bedfordshire on Sunday, MK News, Luton on Sunday, Dunstable on Sunday and Leighton Buzzard on Sunday, which are all still produced from Bedford.

David Tooley, NUJ father of chapel at Herts & Essex Newspapers, said: "The chapel greatly regrets the loss of Hertfordshire on Sunday after only 11 months of publication under HEN as, editorially, it had begun to pick up contacts and a loyal readership.

"Herts & Essex Newspapers recently acquired the free Advertiser Series, which circulates in the same areas, and the chapel understands the company feels these new titles offer greater growth potential.

"However, we are disappointed that HEN could not consider some sort of merger between HoS and the Advertisers to create news-led publications."