The Hebridean newspaper, which recently stopped production after just nine months in operation, has been bought by its former rival, the Stornoway Gazette.

The deal follows the closure of The Hebridean earlier this month, resulting in the loss of four jobs.

Angus Morrison, managing director of the Stornoway Gazette, which itself is owned by Scottish Radio Holdings, said the paper had acquired the title and the publishing rights to The Hebridean from Island Media Ltd.

He would not comment on future plans for the title.

It was set up by Kenny Maciver and Peter Urpeth, both former editors of the Stornoway Gazette, in April last year and their ambitious plan was to cover some 180 miles north to south, taking in a wide cross-section of population.

A lack of advertising support and no assistance from public enterprise agencies, which could have helped the start-up, was blamed for its demise.

The local market for advertising is highly competitive, mainly due to the small customer base and the depressed economy of the islands.

It had reached a circulation of just 5,000, compared with the Gazette’s 13,500 per week, but this had been on the increase with the tabloid attracting a younger readership.

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