A local newspaper publisher has announced the closure of one of its free weekly titles – just days after launching a new paid-for.

The Lambeth Post, an off-shoot of the South London Press, was founded in 2011 – but just two years on, publisher Tindle Newspapers has confirmed it is to cease publication in order to focus on its portfolio of hyperlocal paid-for titles.

The announcement comes in the same week the new paid-for Greenwich Town Mercury hit the shelves for the first time.

South London Press managing director Peter Edwards told HTFP that the decision stemmed from the launch of seven new hyperlocal papers in June last year – including two in the borough of Lambeth, the Streatham & South London Press and Brixton & South London Press.

“These titles have been immensely successful, such that this week we have launched the Greenwich Town Mercury,” he said.

“Our clear strategy is to develop our paid, hyper-local portfolio.

“Given that we have successful titles in Lambeth we have concluded we want to focus on these rather than the free Lambeth Post.”

He said it would “absolutely not” mean any job losses.

“Tindle Newspapers is the only UK group not to have made a single journalist compulsorily redundant since the current recession began,” he added.

Tindle Newspapers has claimed that sales of the flagship weekly SLP had risen by 35pc since its relaunch as the seven separate titles, which cover Streatham, Brixton, Wimbledon, Wandsworth, Dulwich, Deptford and Forest Hill.

There were no journalists dedicated solely to the Post, but nobody from Tindle was available to comment on whether the move will lead to any job losses.

The Post was delivered free door to door within the Borough of Lambeth, and was also available on pick-up around the area.