Newsquest’s Herald and Times Group has announced the achievement of its planned profit targets last month in the face of challenging market conditions.

The Glasgow-based group, which publishes The Herald, Sunday Herald and Evening Times, said it had met profits in all four of its divisions – newspapers, printing, its s1 internet advertising agency and magazines.

Managing director Tim Blott said: “This is a tremendous achievement and puts the group in a strong position at the end of the first quarter.

“We are better able to face what is shaping up to be a tough April and May when school holidays, the royal wedding and bank holidays are likely to affect newspaper sales and advertising.”