Observer Standard’s launches plugs free paper gap

Observer Standard Newspapers has launched two new free titles, the Evesham Observer and the Cotswolds Observer.

Six journalists will work across the titles, including editor of the Worcester Observer James Isles and his deputy Vicki Gumley, who previously worked in the group's sub-editing department.

The two 72-page papers launched on 23 March with a combined guaranteed circulation in excess of 33,500 homes.

These two new titles join the existing Observer Standard Group of 16 free weekly newspapers and their three paidfor titles.

OSN managing director Chris Bullivant said: "The Evesham and Cotswolds Observers complete the circulation ‘gap' between our existing Stratford Observer and the Worcester Observer, and were launched after requests from businesses within the area for an Observer Standard title to be distributed across these areas."

The full-colour titles cover news across Evesham, Pershore, Broadway, the Cotswolds and the surrounding villages. They will focus on local news "from court to councils, plays to planning applications, business to babies", said Bullivant.

There will be pages covering news, sport, schools, people, society, recycling, worship, courts, business, letters, equine events and leisure.