Top-selling regional daily the Express & Star has expanded its digital portfolio and launched an app for Android smartphones.

Available from the Google Play online store, the app – which is also available for the E&S’s sister paper, the Shropshire Star – uses page-turning technology to allow readers to see the same image as features in the printed edition.

It follows the launch of the iPhone and iPad editions of the two papers, which were released in October alongside a desktop edition for PC and laptop users.

Will Beavis, head of digital at publisher the Midland News Association, said once an edition is available, it can be downloaded to read anywhere – even if offline.

The app also gives readers access to the last 30 editions of the paper, the ability to search for particular stories, as well as download specific pages.

The Android app costs £4.99 a month or £44.99 a year, with a two-week free trial to give readers a taste of the product.