The Times has been accused of “byline banditry” over its treatment of a news story bought from the Daily Mail which originated with a freelance journalist.

Sheron Boyle wrote a story about the oldest ballet dancer in the country passing an exam aged 80 which was printed in Monday’s Daily Mail and appeared under her byline.

The story was purchased for republication by The Times, which ran the story in its Tuesday edition. The paper gave Boyle a shared byline, putting her name after a staff reporter.