New competition from an expanded BBC news service in Hull means the Hull Daily Mail is facing a “major challenge” to its product.

A revamped Look North TV news, which will cover a half-hour slot instead of the current five-minute opt-out, is part of the BBC’s £25m investment in the area.

Despite a major publicity campaign by the BBC, Mail editor John Meehan told the broadcaster’s news chiefs he could not give their expansion priority on his pages.

And a memo has been sent to editorial staff reminding them that their contacts and local knowledge will be key to the Mail coming out on top.

Assistant editor Marc Astley said: “We have a healthy rivalry with the BBC and a cordial relationship.

“But for the first time in a long time we have got a proper rival.

“We’ve always monitored other media and we’re not complacent – our two watchwords here have always been ‘first’ and ‘best': we’ve been working towards this for the last four years and nothing will change.”

The Hull Daily Mail covers Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire and sells around 80,000 copies, spread across the whole of that area.

The BBC’s new venture was launched with special guest and local MP John Prescott, with director general Greg Dyke present.

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