The Croydon Advertiser is converting from broadsheet to compact in a move billed as “the most exciting change in its 141-year history”.

The weekly newspaper is switching to the new format in response to demand from its readers, and the change will mean more colour, with only four editorial pages in mono.

It will also see the paper printed as one section, rather than the current two, with sport moved to the back of the main section.

The new compact Advertiser

When the new-look paper hits the streets for the first time next Friday, it will be the culmination of two years’ work by the Advertiser’s team to make it more relevant to the “lively, metropolitan area” it serves.

Editor-in-chief Ian Carter said: “We’ve had a lot of success with the Advertiser. However, our readers have been constantly telling us they want their paper in an easier to handle format.

“We’ve also got a fantastic editorial team on board at the moment – easily the best I have worked with – which makes me very confident they will rise to the challenge.

“You don’t change a paper with the Advertiser’s history without giving it very careful consideration, but with the team we have place I think we can produce a fantastic paper week in, week out.”

The broadsheet Advertiser

To mark the launch the new-look paper will be advertised on the back of buses and at tram stops.

It has five editions, covering Croydon, New Addington, Sutton and Epsom, Coulsdon and Purley and Caterham and district.