- The Guardian Media Group has joined the This is Britain regional newspaper web consortium as a shareholder.
The Guardian Media Group, which owns the Manchester Evening News, Reading Evening News, and Surrey Advertiser series, joins This is Britain founders Newsquest Media Group, Trinity Mirror, Northcliffe Newspapers and Associated New Media.
When launched This is Britain will be the national hub for a network of 60 plus regional newspaper community sites. More than 40 are already branded "This is" including the likes of This is London and This is Oxfordshire.
The network is intending to achieve 84 per cent coverage of the UK by the end of the year.
Jonathan Turpin, chief executive of This is Britain, said: "With the arrival of the GMG's regional division, This is Britain is now very close to delivering coverage of all major towns and cities in the UK. Further discussions are underway."