Trinity Mirror will shut down eight free weekly newspapers in Derby and Peterborough due to a lack of a buyer for its Midlands division last year. 23 employees, six in editorial, will reportedly be made redundant.

Trinity reported that it had no plans to close any other publications in the division, including the Birmingham Mail and the Coventry Evening Telegraph.

"It is a very sad day when newspaper titles close and we looked hard at alternative measures to try and prevent this decision," said Steve Brown, the regional managing director of Trinity Mirror Midlands.

"However, the remaining titles in the Trinity Mirror Midlands marketplace remain strong and the management team is focused on continuing to grow audiences and products across the rest of the region."

The eight papers that will close are: the Derby Trader, the Peterborough Herald and Post, the Ilkeston Trader, Ripley Trader, Belper Bugle, Stamford Herald and Post, Whittlesey Standard, and Deepings Standard.

Source: Guardian.co.uk