More ultra-local journalism microsites have been launched by a north-east daily newspaper.

The Journal, Newcastle, has added to six more of the so-called ‘community websites’ to its portfolio of ten – initially launched in May.

It eventually plans to have more than 20 of the local news sites by the end year with content already being ‘reversed-published’ in the print editions.

The Journal recently recruited a new team of specialist writers to work on the websites with district reporters based in Hexham, Alnwick and Bedlington also contributing.

The morning title is one of several Trinity Mirror papers to operate the local news sites including Teesside’s Evening Gazette which runs ‘Gazette Communities’ sites and hyper-local newspapers.

The Journal says the ‘Your Place’ sites, which cover small towns to the north and west of Newcastle, are part of project to bring more local news to the people of Northumberland.

They also are also open to citizen journalism with readers having the chance to become community correspondents and upload content directly to the websites.

Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “The project is about providing an even better service to the people of Northumberland.

“The response has been fantastic, with increasing numbers of people using the sites to find out what’s going on in the areas in which they live.

“With the addition of the latest six sites, we are now one step closer to having a comprehensive network of microsites to serve the entire county.”

The sites are updated several times a day and contain news and sport as well as other useful features.

Users can also access important contact numbers, event listings and weather information.