A monthly newspaper founded by an ex-Johnston Press journalist has relaunched with an experimental new masthead and increased pagination.

Issue 23 of the Scarborough Review, which is released today, features an aqua blue masthead to replace the green artwork which had been in place since it first went to print in August 2013.

Pete Spence, the former Scarborough News sub-editor who founded the paper, says the masthead is likely to be retained on a permanent basis if readers take a liking to it.

The Review has also increased its pagination to 60 pages from 52 – just a few months after it had risen from 36.

Today’s edition of the Scarborough Review

Said Pete: “The increase in both advertising and the demand for us to cover events has gone through the roof.

“For example, there is a four page pull out for the University of Hull Scarborough Campus in issue 23 and advertisers continue to show us their support.

“It is great when you can say to advertisers that all 12,000 of our copies are picked up and there are none left on the shelves.

“With local newspapers struggling in recent times it makes a refreshing change to have a product which is going the opposite way and succeeding.”

Pete’s decision to launch the review came after Johnston Press’ decision to switch the Scarborough News from a daily to a weekly publication in 2012.

In November 2014 Pete sold the Review to York-based Your Local Link Media, although he retains shares in the business and editorial responsibility.

Gini Guttery, Your Local Link Media Group managing director, said: “To be involved in the success of this local newspaper is an honour.

“I am very pleasantly surprised at how quickly it has progressed both in terms of its editorial content and advertising revenue.

“That is down to Pete’s commitment to Scarborough and his passion and commitment to local news and shows that there is a huge local need for a printed product.

“The model we have developed together is sustainable and profitable and we look forward to rolling it out into other areas.”

A previous edition of the Review featuring the old masthead