THE Gazette’s parent company, Newsquest Media Group, has acquired Romanes Media Group for an undisclosed sum.

Romanes is local news publishing business operating in Berkshire, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Employing 270 staff, its portfolio comprises one daily newspaper, 19 weekly paid-for papers and nine weekly free papers, plus associated websites.

Among its titles is the Reading Chronicle.

Newsquest chief executive Henry Faure Walker said: “Newsquest is focused on building one of the leading local multi-media publishing businesses in the UK, and I am delighted to welcome Romanes Media Group to the company.

“We operate in separate markets but this portfolio of good quality weekly titles provides a strong fit with plenty of opportunity.”

Romanes Media Group originated with the Dunfermline Press which was founded by the Romanes family in 1859.

Its news brands include the Greenock Telegraph, the Dunfermline Press, the East Lothian Courier and the Impartial Reporter.

Newsquest is one of the UK’s largest regional media groups with more than 150 brands across the UK publishing online, on mobile and in print.

Newsquest is one of the UK’s largest regional media groups with more than 150 brands across the UK publishing online, on mobile and in print, reaching more than 20 million visitors a month online and 6.5 million readers a week in print.

Along with Gazette Newspapers, its stable includes Southern Daily Echo and The Hampshire Chronicle, along with the Oxford Mail, The Northern Echo, the Lancashire Telegraph and the South Wales Argus.