Trinity Mirror, the publishing company which owns the Gloucester Citizen and Cheltenham Echo, is in talks to buy the Daily Express and Daily Star.

In January, the company which already owns the Daily Mirror, announced it was hoping to take a minority stake in the Northern & Shell company, owned by Richard Desmond.

But today it has confirmed it hopes to acquire 100 per cent of the publishing assets of the company, which also publishes celebrity magazine OK!.

An announcement on its website today said: "Further to the announcement made on 10 January 2017, the board of Trinity Mirror plc notes that it is now in discussions to acquire 100 per cent of the publishing assets of Northern & Shell and that it has ceased discussions to acquire a minority stake in a new company comprising the publishing assets of Northern & Shell.

"There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed or completed. Any acquisition would require the approval of Trinity Mirror shareholders.

"A further announcement will be made when appropriate."

Trinity Mirror is already Britain's biggest regional newspaper publisher, with more than 100 daily and weekly titles, including the Citizen and Echo, Manchester Evening News and Birmingham Post.

As the local press comes under the increased pressure of competition from internet and social media, this could be a good move as they consolidate their revenue, but could be bad news for staff of the Express and Star, as Trinity Mirror is well known in the industry for reducing head count.

Which makes it all the more important to buy your local paper and support them to continue bringing local news to the community.

What do you think? Contact mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk