Competition minister Melanie Johnson has given the go-ahead for the transfer of a free monthly newspaper to the Northcliffe group.

The Hornsea Post is currently run by husband and wife team Douglas and Jill Orry, but last month the Government asked for views on its proposed sale to Northcliffe.

And now the competition minister has decided to give her consent to the sale without a Competition Commission inquiry.

She said: “I have considered the application carefully, including the views of third parties.

“In coming to a decision I reviewed all relevant issues, including competition, concentration of ownership, employment and the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion.”

The paper, which was established in November 1987, is published on the fourth Wednesday of every month and distributed to more than 8,500 homes in Hornsea and surrounding villages within an eight-mile radius.

The sale did not have to be referred to the Competition Commission for a decision because the paid-for circulation of the title is below 50,000 per day of publication.

The consent to the transfer of the title will, as usual, be limited to one year. If the transfer is not completed within a year it will need to be re-examined.

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