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Mystery buyer saves West Country titles

A closure-threatened group of community newspapers in the West Country have been saved from collapse after being sold to a new owner.

Before Christmas, we revealed that last-ditch talks were taking place in a bid to save 25 jobs at the Dorset-based View From group which publishes five titles in the region.

The group, launched by journalist Philip Evans five years ago, has now been acquired for an undisclosed sum by an unnamed businessman.

However the identity of the new owner is being kept a closely-guarded secret until he has met with staff, which is expected to happen this week.

There had been speculation that the titles could be sold either to Sir Ray Tindle, who recently purchased another of the View From titles, or Newsquest, publishers of the rival Dorset Echo.

However it is understood that the new buyer is in fact a businessman from St Albans who owns a successful publishing company in Hertfordshire and has other business interests in Dorset.

Mr Evans says he plans to continue publishing the weekly View From titles in Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Beaminster and Lyme Regis, which have a combined distribution of 23,000, as well as a monthly in the Sid Vale, Devon.

He has also bought the publishing rights to View From Chard and View From Ilminster, distributed in South Somerset, and the View Online website .

Mr Evans said: “The new owner recognises that the Dorset titles are hugely popular with readers and advertisers and is committed to developing them in the future with some exciting ideas.

“I am also pleased that there will be jobs for most of the staff, some of whom offered to carry on working for nothing to help save the business.”