One of the biggest-selling regional titles in the UK is switching from broadsheet to compact format on Mondays.

Aberdeen-based daily The Press and Journal adopted the new format this week, having also adopted it for its Saturday edition seven years ago.

However the DC Thomson-owned title is to retain its broadsheet format on the other four days of the week for the time being, although with some design elements incorporated from the compact version.

The new design was drawn up by Edinburgh-based Palmer Watson, who also carried out a redesign of the P&J four years ago. Key elements include a reduction in the number of straplines and subheadings, and a switch from centred to set left for headlines, bylines and captions.

Writing in Monday’s paper, editor Damian Bates said:  “Today sees the Press and Journal go compact on a Monday with a new lifestyle section and significantly more sports coverage.

“But you will also find it maintains its gravitas and analysis of the news so that you can keep up to date with all the happenings in your area and further afield.”

The format switch coincides with the launch of a new free weekly newspaper in Aberdeen this week.

CityLife, a 32-page full-colour tabloid, will have an initial print run of 10,000 and is due to hit the streets tomorrow.

The lifestyle-orientated title is being launched by N-E-R Media, an Aberdeen based company formerly known as Impac.

It already publishes The Buchaneer, a local free newspaper distributed in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Ellon , Longside, Mintlaw and Cruden Bay.