Regional newspapers in Northern Ireland saw their sales drop in the first half of this year, according to ABC figures released today.

The three regional dailies in the province all saw their average circulations fall for the period January to June 2015.

The best-performing of the three was the Irish News, which saw its circulation drop by 5.7pc year-on-year to 37,666.

At the Belfast Telegraph, its average sales fell by 8.1pc to 44,141, while its sister Sunday Life title had a decrease of 8pc to 40,602.

And the News Letter had a circulation fall of 9.3pc year-on-year to 17,511.

Few weekly titles in Northern Ireland feature in today’s report for the first half of 2015 as most are audited annually, so their figures were released in February.

The Newry Reporter had the biggest fall in circulation of the regional newspapers covered by the report, at 9.9pc.

The ABC figures for the rest of the UK are due to be released next Wednesday.

Here is the list of figures for Northern Ireland, with the circulation figure followed by the year-on-year increase or decrease.

Daily Newspapers

Belfast Telegraph 44,141 -8.1pc

Irish News 37,666 -5.7pc

News Letter 17,511 -9.3pc

Weekly Newspapers

Banbridge Chronicle 3,521 -5.8pc

Newry Reporter 8,502 -9.9pc

Sunday Life 40,602 -8pc