A regional daily has claimed a new “home” online almost three years after losing its own dedicated website.

The Burton Mail has urged readers to visit Reach plc’s Staffordshire Live site for news about its patch and the rest of the county, with the online title now describing itself as the “home of the Burton Mail” on its homepage.

The Mail’s old site merged with the Derby Telegraph’s under the new online brand Derbyshire Live in March 2018, but Reach later set up Staffordshire Live after the move was criticised by the National Union of Journalists.

Mail staff have been based in Derby since the closure of their old office in Burton upon Trent in January last year, and the Telegraph’s address is still listed as the office for Staffordshire Live.

As well as East Staffordshire, the Mail also covers areas of South Derbyshire and North-West Leicestershire, and a ‘Burton Live’ channel has been retained on the Derbyshire Live site.

In a piece on Monday announcing the Mail and Burton Live were “going home”, editor Julie Crouch, who also edits Staffordshire Live, said: “Staffordshire is home to over a million people, and one of the powerhouses of the Midlands.

“So it’s only right it should have its own website to speak up for its people, hold power to account, and break the biggest stories of the day.

“Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the team at Burton Live have been tireless in bringing to you all the most important news on the spread of the virus and the changing restrictions on people’s daily lives.

“In such uncertain times, people need a website they can trust, one they know puts them first, and we’re thrilled to be able to take the Burton Mail and Burton Live home to Staffordshire.

“We’re excited about this new stage in our history, and are thrilled to be able to bring you – our fantastic, loyal readers – the website you deserve at a time it’s needed the most.”