London Lite faces closure amid fierce battle of free newspapers

Published on Tuesday 27 October 2009 19:32

THE free evening paper London Lite is facing closure, it was announced yesterday.

Associated Newspapers said it has entered a period of consultation over the future of the newspaper, "which may result in closure".

The announcement comes weeks after the Evening Standard, which covers the London area, went free.

A consultation will take place with 36 London Lite employees before a final decision is made.

Steve Auckland, managing director, Associated Newspapers Free Division, said: "The latest development in the London afternoon free newspaper space dictates that we look again at the future of London Lite.

"Despite reaching a large audience with an excellent editorial format, we are concerned about the commercial viability in this highly-competitive area."

Associated's parent company, Daily Mail & General Trust, has a minority stake in the Standard, which dropped its 50p cover price on 12 October.

The publisher said it would more than double the Standard's circulation from 250,000 to more than 600,000 each day when the charge was axed.

Andrew Mullins, managing director of the Evening Standard, said previously: "Sustaining a paid-for afternoon newspaper had its challenges even before the freesheets were launched in 2006."

London Lite puts out some 400,000 copies each day.