A local news title has vowed to keep paywalls “at bay” after revealing fresh expansion plans.

The Island Echo, which covers the Isle of Wight, has revealed it is set to move to new offices in the summer and is taking on a new journalist in the coming weeks.

The announcement comes as the online-only Echo marks 10 years in business, having first published in May 2012.

In revealing the plans, editor and publisher Darren Toogood has pledged to keep the title, which turns over more than £140,000 a year, “free to all readers”.

Darren, pictured, said: “I am incredibly proud of what Island Echo has achieved in a relatively short space of time. I could never have imagined a decade ago that Island Echo would grow to what it has become today.

“The demand for accurate, up-to-date and truly local news is greater than ever before and we are certainly feeling it. This is why we are investing in local talent to increase our output, as well as investing in new offices to take the publication to the next level.

“This will allow us to expand the services we provide, add more multimedia elements to our news coverage and provide further opportunities to the journalists of tomorrow.

“We are also exploring the options for the development of a new website to meet the ever-changing demands of our readers and to reflect how our news coverage is changing.

“I am curious as to what the next 10 years will bring. Undoubtedly the market will continue to change and there will be more reliance on independent publishers like ourselves, but that brings opportunity and I know we will continue to keep up with the latest technology advances and be quick to respond to local change.

“Finally, we are committed to keeping Island Echo free to all readers so I reaffirm our pledge to keep the paywalls at bay for the time being.”