One of the last daily broadsheet newspapers in Scotland is to go tabloid sized his week.

The Courier, owned by DC Thomson, will switch to the new format on Saturday when all regional daily editions, including Dundee, Fife, Perth and Angus, will adopt the new design.

The newspaper was established in 1816 as the Weekly Courier and maintained a traditional newspaper format with adverts rather than news on the front page for many years until 1992 when it introduced colour and news stories on page one.

DC Thomson is also switching its Aberdeen based Press and Journal to tabloid size from broadsheet this week.

Courier editor Richard Neville said: “This year is the dawn of a new era for The Courier. We are changing format, investing in new sections, increasing content across the title and investing significantly in resources.

“As well as changing to a compact shape we will be printing in full colour. We are also adding a new Saturday lifestyle section, a property supplement and a What’s On pull-out.

Editor Richard Neville with a copy of The Courier

“Our sports, business, agri-business and news sections will be expanded, concentrating on local content but continuing to feature relevant Scottish and UK coverage.

“At a time when most newspaper companies are retreating in the face of competition from the internet and the impact of the recession, it is fantastic to be working for a publisher that clearly sees a strong future for print – as well as digital – and has faith in the longevity of newspapers.

“The potential for even more innovation and development will come later this year when our new print facility is up and running in Dundee. Readers of The Courier are in for a real treat.”

In the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figures for the six-month period from January to June 2011, The Courier had an average daily sale figure of 61,981.