A new free evening paper for London is to be launched by News International later this year.

Thelondonpaper will be aimed at those aged between 18 and 34 and will include lifestyle-led news.

It is due to be launched on September 18, and 400,000 copies will then be distributed by hand in central London and Canary Wharf each afternoon.

News International, which publishes The Sun and The Times, says the new title will be in direct competition with the Evening Standard.

It is also designed to pre-empt the award of licences to distribute afternoon free papers in London’s underground and train stations, which News International is competing for.

Thelondonpaper will be edited by Stefano Hatfield and have 70 staff, including its own team of journalists.