Two sister daily newspapers have introduced a part-paywall on their websites, with some ‘premium’ content now only available to paying subscribers.

Express & Star and Shropshire Star readers will be prompted to sign up for the new ‘plus’ service when accessing selected content on their recently redesigned websites expressandstar.com and shropshirestar.com.

Although some articles will remain accessible to all users, other “premium” content will only be available to subscribers, who will also be able to view the sites free of adverts.

Subscriptions are currently avilable monthly at £5.99 and annually at £42.99.

The Express & Star’s recently redesigned wesbite, which can now be accessed ad-free via the ‘plus’ subscription service

Editor-in-chief Martin Wright said: “As we adapt to the evolving media landscape, this paywall represents a significant shift in our approach to digital content distribution.

“While we will continue to offer a selection of articles for free, subscribers will gain exclusive access to our premium content, showcasing the best articles from our team of talented journalists.”

“By subscribing, readers not only support our newsroom’s ability to produce the best coverage of our region, but they will also contribute towards the long-term sustainability of trustworthy journalism.

““Our dedicated team at MNA Media, the parent company of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, will use the revenue generated from the paywall to further invest in investigative journalism and in-depth reporting.

“This investment ensures that we consistently provide our valued readers with the highest quality journalism, which demands substantial resources. We are confident that our readers will appreciate the value of our content and the enhanced user experience that comes with a subscription.

“By introducing a paywall, we are taking steps to ensure the long-term viability of independent journalism in the region, reinforcing the importance of trustworthy reporting in an age overwhelmed by information – and sadly misinformation – overload.”

The move comes shortly after the titles’ parent company MNA media was taken over by National World.