Regional publisher Johnston Press is continuing its drive to diversify into the exhibitions market by launching an outdoor pursuits show.

Flagship title The Scotsman has announced it is to host the Outdoor Pursuits Scotland 2011 show at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre in April.

The event will be promoted through The Scotsman and is sister titles Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News, together with 40 other local and regional titles owned by JP.

Earlier this year JP announced it is staging what it hopes will be the UK’s biggest pet show next month, followed by a Magic of Christmas exhibition in December.

Scotsman Publications managing director Andrew Richardson said: “We are delighted to be developing what we intend will become an annual event.

“Initial interest and reaction to our plans is very encouraging and to know we have already sold over 20pc of the available space at this early stage shows that there is a real appetite for an event of this type in Scotland.

“Bringing together all of our Scottish papers and websites to focus on one event means we have a powerful proposition to make to potential exhibitors.”

A dedicated website has been set up for news about the exhibition at www.scottishoutdoorpursuits.co.uk.