The Welwyn and Hatfield Times has welcomed a new recruit - with a difference.

Miranda Fox has been taken on to read daily news bulletins on the title's website, but she doesn't feel the stress of meeting deadlines and she certainly won't be arguing with her editors.

Because rather than employing a real flesh-and-blood human to do the job, the Archant weekly has hired a virtual newsreader.

News editor Chris Lennon said: "Miranda will be making sure readers stay up-to-date with what's happening in Times territory every day.

"The Internet is giving weekly newspapers the chance to keep its readers informed as and when things happen – something they've not been able to do in the past."

The computer-generated newsreader has already made quite an impact, and DJ Steve Folland, who hosts the breakfast show on local station Hertbeat FM, said she would prove to be competition for their own newsreader, Chris Hollis.

Chris and Miranda even had an argument on air as the rivalry heated up – a row that can be heard online.

Chris Lennon said: "Miranda's only been with us for a short while but it's great that she's already turning heads!"

The software behind Miranda comes from America and she was originally taken on to host the Herts24 web awards.

Web editor Sam Newby-Ricci said: "The software can be bought and embedded into any website – so anyone can have Miranda if they want to pay for her!"