Newsagents have held “frank and open” talks with a regional publisher over a threat to stop stocking its newspapers.

Representatives from the Federation of Independent Retailers met with Newsquest following a row over margins which emerged earlier this month.

HTFP reported how the newsagents’ trade body, which is also known as the NFRN, revealed the publisher planned to reduce retailers’ margins from 15pc to 14.5pc at the same time as increasing the price of a number of daily and weekly titles.

The NFRN warned the move could lead its members to “seriously think twice” about stocking the publisher’s papers, but Newsquest claimed in response that retailers would see above inflation increases in the income and pence per copy they receive in most cases.

The two parties have now met for what they have described as a “frank and open discussion” on the issue on Tuesday.

NFRN national president Narinder Randhawa, pictured, vice president Jason Birks and head of news and connect Brian Murphy were present at the meeting, along with Newsquest North East managing director David Coates.

David also chairs the group’s newspaper sales development group.

In a joint statement, the two parties said: “A meeting was held on Tuesday between representatives from the NFRN and Newsquest, following the announcement last week that the publisher was reducing retailer profit margins, at the same time as increasing the cover price of many of its news titles.”

They added: “A further meeting is to be held with Newsquest’s management team to look at ways of protecting NFRN members’ sales.

“In an effort to help the two organisations work together, the NFRN has also been invited to take part in future meetings of the newspaper sales development group to discuss and develop projects.”