A leading regional daily is planning a relaunch this weekend around a new 44-page property guide.

The Liverpool Echo is claiming the new guide will be the first to cover the whole of Merseyside.

Its new “bumper weekend edition,” which also includes the Football Echo supplement, is being backed by a major advertising campaign across the region.

As well as the new Saturday features, the Trinity Mirror-owned title is also launching a new midweek business pull-out targeted at small business owners.

Echo editor Alistair Machray said: “Saturday, September 11 is a huge day for the Echo.

“I’m delighted to announce a brand new property guide – the first to cover all of Merseyside.

“It will be packed with homes for sale and rent and we have received tremendous backing from estate agents and developers across the region.

“We’ll also be including pages of fantastic features on homes and interiors. It’s an absolutely essential read for home owners and would-be home owners everywhere.”

Alistair said the property supplement would start at 44 pages but he expects it to expand from that base.

“I believe this will grow bigger and bigger as more and more estate agents and developers appreciate this is where they need to be to best serve their clients and more and more businesses generally realise this is the best way to reach a house-proud readership,” he added.