A regional daily newspaper has increased the cover price for its Saturday edition by 20p after launching a new supplement.

A price increase from 45p to 65p will be brought in tomorrow as a result of a number of changes by The Northern Echo.

The paper has also introduced a new weekly local history supplement, which has been led by deputy editor Chris Lloyd, turning his long-standing Echo Memories column into a 12-page Thursday pullout.

And the title’s 7 Days entertainment guide, published each Thursday, has had a revamp and will no longer have TV and radio listings – which will instead be incorporated into a 48-page Weekend supplement each Saturday.

The first issue of the Echo Memories supplement.

Editor Peter Barron said the title had brought in the Weekend supplement so readers would have a more comprehensive package on Saturdays, as other papers already provided.

He decided to launch the Echo Memories supplement, which was already one of the most popular parts of the paper, to compensate for the TV listings no longer being in Thursday’s paper.

Said Peter: “I think you are always nervous of change. I was very nervous about changing the paper from a broadsheet to a tabloid three years ago because it is such a big change, but that proved absolutely the right thing to do.

“We are asking people to pay more for the paper on a Saturday in tough economic times but I think it is good value for money because they are getting a good package already, plus a 48-page supplement.

“I hope that the readers continue to support the paper.”

The Weekend supplement, led by features production editor Jenny Needham, will include TV and radio listings, puzzles, celebrity news, food, travel, homes and gardens.

And the memories supplement has been launched with sponsorship from a local solicitors’ firm.