An independent publisher has completed the purchase of eight weekly newspapers.

Tindle Newspapers has announced the acquisition of the Cornwall-based ‘Voice’ series from AD Sales Limited, owned by Peter Masters.

HTFP reported in June how Mr Masters had announced his intention to sell the titles in June with a plea for a larger publisher than his company.

He subsequently whittled down 11 different parties which expressed an interest to a shortlist of three rival bidders.

The Voice, published each Wednesday, currently has eight paid-for editions covering Bodmin, Camborne & Redruth, Liskeard, Newquay, Penzance, Saltash, St Austell and Truro.

According to Mr Masters, they are run by nine full-time and three part-time staff.

Tindle has confirmed that the staff, who have been notified of the sale, will join Tindle Newspapers Cornwall Ltd.

The company, founded by the late Sir Ray Tindle, already runs other titles in the county including the Cornish & Devon Post and the Cornish Times.

Tindle managing director Scott Wood, pictured, said: “We are excited to strengthen our position in Cornwall by acquiring the popular and trusted Voice series.

“The Voice titles will complement our current newspapers and websites, generating new opportunities. I look forward to welcoming the team at Voice into the Tindle family.”

Mr Masters previously revealed he had also received separate expressions of interest for two other titles that are currently on hiatus – the historic Sunday Independent, which was first published in 1808, and regional magazine Cornwall Today.

He said: “It’s good, positive news and I’m pleased for the employees, pleased for Tindle and they’ll take the papers forward. They have the same ethos I bought into.”

Discussing the remaining titles up for sale, he added: “The movement’s still going on there. The deal is ongoing and I’m hoping to close that within the next 14 days.

“I can see the Indy starting printing very shortly.”