A regional daily and a local radio station are setting aside traditional rivalries after launching a content-sharing deal on their patch.

The Portsmouth News is joining forces with Express FM as part of a new ongoing collaboration which aims to “strengthen local news coverage” in the city.

As part of the scheme, an on-air news review feature rounding up Portsmouth’s top stories will be broadcast multiple times a week and made available as a podcast.

Stories from The News will also be shared on the Express FM website and social media channels to help widen the audience reach for the city’s local news.

From left: Express FM breakfast presenter Ian James, Portsmouth News editor Kelly Brown and Express FM content manager Harrison RB

Kelly Brown, editor of The News, said: “Our wonderful city has so much to shout about and celebrate, and keeping local residents up-to-date with the local news is important as part of that.

“I’m thrilled that our new collaboration will not only improve Express FM’s news offering but also give us the opportunity to reach a new audience in this growing digital age.”

Express FM content manager Harrison RB added: “It’s really exciting to be teaming up with The News and we can’t wait to start working more closely together going forward.

“We are a small not-for-profit organisation but have been a trusted brand in the city for eighteen years, and to both back and be backed by such prestigious journalism is huge for us.

“Our unique ability to bring fact-checked local stories to life using the power of radio is just one of the ways we will be working together, united in the fight against misinformation that threatens local democracy.”