Revenues for the press division of Scottish Radio Holdings between October and March are estimated to be seven per cent ahead of last year, according to the group.

A pre-close update prior to the end of its half year on March 31 predicts a sharp growth in group revenues, up 11 per cent on last year, helped by a successful six months for its newspapers.

Score Press, which publishes 45 local weekly newspapers in Scotland and Ireland including the Coleraine Times, Mid-Ulster Mail, Portadown Times, Galloway Gazette, Stornoway Times, and The Hebridean, is also expected to see both overall and like-for-like increases in advertising and circulation revenues.

Advertising revenues are expected to be up eight per cent, circulation up three per cent and other revenues up five per cent.

Acquisitions by the group’s radio division have also added to the SRH’s success.

A group statement said it had had an “encouraging” six months.

It said: “The Board considers that the group is in a strong position to continue its development both organically and by acquisition; and believes that the immediate and longer term prospects remain attractive.”