The Northern Echo’s new Saturday compact size has received an “overwhelming” thumbs up from readers.

The Darlington-based paper unveiled its new look on January 14, and so far its transition from broadsheet has been met positively – with sales for the first Saturday compact up five per cent on the previous year.

Editor Peter Barron said: “There has been a huge reaction from readers and, so far, it is overwhelmingly positive.”

Hundreds of readers either wrote in or telephoned the paper with their comments, and Peter has promised to reply to them all personally.

The new Saturday compact

Among the readers to voice their opinion was Colin Peel, from Darlington, who said: “I like both styles, it depends on what I am doing, but this new size is definitely easier when you’re travelling.”

Taxi driver Alan Wall said he liked the fact he could read the handy sized Echo inside his cab.

He said: “The first thing I thought when I got it this morning was that it reminds me of the Evening Standard, in London. I like that.”

And David King, from Newcastle, who buys The Northern Echo every day, said: “I have been reading it for years and I like this size – it is better than the bigger one.”

But Hilda Stockton said: “I definitely prefer the big one and I have been getting this paper for 59 years.”

The move to a compact format on Saturdays is the culmination of a design project which has spanned a number of years.

Feedback from readers and advertisers will dictate whether the paper stays broadsheet Monday to Friday or goes fully compact.