Newsagents have welcomed plans by two Yorkshire dailies to raise their cover prices by 5p from next Monday.

Members of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) gave the thumbs up to Newsquest’s proposition for price rises on both  The Press in York, and the Telegraph and Argus in Bradford, which have been accompanied by pro-rata retail terms.

From Monday, May 26, the cover prices of both titles will increase by 5p, from 55p to 60p.

The publisher is formally writing to retailers this weekend to inform them about the increase.

Ian Simpson, past Yorkshire district NFRN president, who runs London News and Toys in York, said: “It is great news to hear that our existing terms will be maintained when the price increases take effect, but newsagents do have long memories – Newsquest has not always supported retailers when putting up their prices in the past.

“We would remind them that if they want independent newsagents to really back their titles, then retail terms should always move on a pro- rata basis when cover prices are increased.”

Newsquest’s move contrasts with that of rival publisher Johnston Press, which last month raised the price of both its Monday to Friday and Saturday editions of the Yorkshire Post without passing on pro-rata increase to its stockists.

That move brought howls of protest from furious news retailers, who said they would be “reviewing their support” for the YP as a direct result.