Two rival titles are set to merge into a single editorial structure following the buyout of an independent newspaper.

Iliffe Media has announced the purchase of King’s Lynn weekly Your Local Paper,  which was launched 10 years ago in opposition to the established Lynn News.

The paid-for News, which was purchased from Johnston Press by Iliffe in 2017, and the free YLP will now operate out of the same premises under a single management, sales and editorial team as a result of the deal.

YLP founder Alan Taylor will join Iliffe as managing director of the entire West Norfolk operation, which includes the twice-weekly News as well as Wisbech-based weekly the Fenland Citizen, while the paper will also retain its own branding and identity.

Alan, pictured, said: “I am delighted to be joining the Iliffe Media team and look forward to transitioning Your Local Paper into the Iliffe portfolio.

“The Lynn News has been established in the town for almost two centuries and is a hugely respected paper of record.

“Your Local Paper has served the town and the surrounding area for almost 10 years and will continue to prosper with further investment under new ownership.”

Iliffe chief executive Edward Iliffe added: “As an industry we continue to evolve and Iliffe Media will also need to adapt the ways in which we continue to serve content in each of our markets.

“Whilst print audiences have declined during recent years, our overall audience reach has never been greater.

“We genuinely believe that by combining the resources of Your Local Paper with our existing West Norfolk team will help us serve the local advertisers and readers in the most effective possible way, offering them unbeatable audiences across our digital, print and social platforms.”

The deal comes after the Citizen announced earlier this month it was moving from part-free to wholly paid-for, saying giving away copies was “not the right model” for the industry in future.