Two free weeklies in Newsquest’s Wales & Western region stable have been relaunched as paid-for titles.

The Monmouth and Abergavenny Free Press papers join two existing paid-for sister titles covering Pontypool and Chepstow. In March the Pontypool paper will be in its 142nd year.

The Monmouth and Abergavenny tabloid papers, launched with a 20p price tag, will compete head-to-head with the two Tindle titles, the Monmouthshire Beacon and Abergavenny Chronicle.

Chris Mair, editor of the Free Press group said: “We launched the titles as frees in mid-1999, splitting them from a joint single title.

“Our readers have taken them to their hearts and the move to paid-for was a logical step to harmonise the marketing opportunity for advertisers.”

An additional aspect of the restructuring will mean that the free circulation Newport & Cwmbran Free Press will change its title back to the Weekly Argus.

The 40,000 distribution title, which will be racked in a number of supermarkets as well as delivered door-to-door, will be marketed with the flagship six-day-a-week title the South Wales Argus.

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