The publisher of a regional paper has vigorously defended inviting two local council leaders on to an editorial advisory panel.

As part of a major overhaul last weekend, Kent on Sunday laid out a set of guiding principles for the paper and unveiled a group of eight key local figures to act as editorial advisers.

These included the leaders of Kent and Medway councils, sparking a reaction from Press Gazette readers on Twitter, questioning whether the Archant title would maintain its editorial integrity.