Five million readers have now registered as users of a regional publisher’s websites and online services, the company has revealed.

Reach plc has announced the milestone for registrations, which forms part of its “customer value strategy” to get insights into the behaviour of those using its digital services.

Reach says digital revenue performance in the fourth quarter of 2020 is also on track to be the highest on record, and is expected to exceed 20pc year-on-year growth.

The company is now aiming to have 10 million “Reach ID” registered users on its sites by the end of 2022.

Chief executive officer Jim Mullen, pictured, said: “With customer registrations significantly ahead of our initial target at 5 million, and our digital revenues continuing to go from strength to strength, we are now focused on the next phase of our strategy, which will utilise enhanced data and insights with the Reach ID being key to that.

“We are pleased to deliver the Reach ID, our proprietary customer insight platform, and the early results from these commercial trials show there is a clear opportunity to increase yields from advertising campaigns by offering a more data-led approach.

“We will continue to build on the potential of the Reach ID during 2021 with customer insights driving new product innovations and commercial partnerships, offering enhanced value to advertisers through improved returns on campaigns and driving even greater engagement with our content.”