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August 7, 2014updated 08 Aug 2014 1:16pm

Revamp sees three weeklies closed to make way for daily editions and readers given ‘greater opportunity’ to contribute content

By William Turvill

Local World has announced the closure of three free weekly newspapers, which will be replaced by daily editions of the Cambridge News.

The Royston Weekly News, Saffron Walden Weekly News and the Huntingdon/ St Ives & St Neots News & Crier are to stop being published next month.

Meanwhile, the Cambridge News is set for a revamp (mock-up pictured), which will see it adopt a “vibrant new look and new sections covering sport, business, entertainment and lifestyle”.

The changes will also see the Local World title giving readers a “greater opportunity… to get involved, contributing content and debating the issues that matter to them”.

New editions of the daily will also be published for Royston, Saffron Walden and Huntingdon/ St Ives/ St Neots.

According to ABC, the daily, paid-for Cambridge News recorded an average circulation of 17,763 in 2013. The Royston Weekly News and Saffron Walden Weekly News were last audited in the first half of 2013, when they recorded circulations of 13,164 and 19,654 respectively. The third free weekly has not been audited by ABC since 2008.

Cambridge News editor Paul Brackley said: "We are looking forward to bringing our readers a bigger, brighter and better Cambridge News, featuring a fresh design and more content. Daily editions of the title will enable us to reflect what is happening in our local communities, while the new sections will provide a focus for key areas of people’s lives in the region.

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“These are exciting improvements that will reaffirm the newspaper’s position as the voice of the community.”

Richard Duxbury, managing director of Cambridge Newspapers, said: “The new paid for daily editions are great news for the local area. The Cambridge News is great product that is about to get even better. Extensive research has gone into the new title’s design and content and it will mirror what’s important to the people who live in the communities we serve.” 

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