A weekly newspaper has closed less than two years after it was rebranded as an edition of a sister title.

Trinity Mirror has announced the decision to shut the Stevenage edition of the Midweek Mercury, which was known as the Stevenage Advertiser until 2014.

However, the company says it has no plans to close the neighbouring Hitchin edition of the free newspaper and has increased its distribution in the Hertfordshire town.

The Stevenage edition’s closure was announced in a message to readers by editor Julie Palmer.

An edition of the Midweek Mercury from February 2015

It reads: “It is never an easy decision to cease publication of a newspaper, especially one that been has been well-loved and respected in its current format and previously as The Advertiser.

“But the future for the Midweek Mercury lies elsewhere and we will be concentrating our efforts in the Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock areas in print.

“However, we will still be publishing Stevenage news – including full coverage of Stevenage FC – on our popular website at hertfordshiremercury.co.uk and the Thursday Hertfordshire Mercury will continue to be available at selected outlets in town.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support of the Midweek edition and hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as we have enjoyed providing it.”

The two editions were known as the Stevenage Advertiser and Hitchin Advertiser until 2014, when then-owner Local World relaunched the titles under the Mercury brand.