The BBC Trust together with media watchdog Ofcom have extended the deadline for responses to their controversial proposals for local video online.

Last month, the corporation unveiled plans to spend £68m developing local video services which would enable 60 of the BBC’s local websites to produce video on demand.

The plans were heavily criticised by the Newspaper Society, which claims the BBC is simply trying to resurrect its earlier proposals for ultra-local TV in another guise.

It says the BBC’s 60 local websites already compete head-to-head with regional newspaper websites and its expansion plans will amount to unfair competition.

Now potential opponents of the plans are being given an additional fortnight to set out their case.

Ofcom is carrying out a market impact assessment on the potential impact of the plan, and has published a questionnaire inviting industry stakeholders to give their views.

Among the questions it asks are whether the proposed BBC service will affect take-up of existing services and what impact it might have on revenue streams.

The original date for receipt of the questionnaires has now been extended by two weeks from July 22 to August 4.

A BBC spokeswoman said the closing date had been extended to allow additional time for anyone who has a contribution to make to the Trust’s deliberations.

Members of the public and any organisation can have their say on the plans here.