The publisher of the Citizen and Echo, Trinity Mirror, faces an inquiry into its proposed takeover of the publisher of the Express and Star.

Matt Hancock, the culture secretary, said he was considering intervening in the deal because of concerns about editorial decision making and the need for a range of views in newspapers.

Trinity Mirror owns 240 regional newspapers, as well as the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.

The deal was formally brought to the culture secretary's attention by the Competitions and Markets Authority.

Trinity Mirror, which is set to change its name to Reach , agreed in February to buy Northern & Shell,  publishers of the Daily Express, Daily Star and OK! Magazine, for £126.7 million.

If the merger goes ahead, it will create the UK's biggest newspaper group and publish nine of the 20 national titles.

A decision by the culture secretary to intervene would require Ofcom to assess and report to him on the public interest considerations and for the Competition and Markets Authority to report on its own investigations into the competition elements of the merger.

Mr Hancock has asked for written representations from the parties involved and has said he will decide soon whether to intervene in the deal.

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