The KM Group is to launch a new paid-for newspaper in Sittingbourne.

The Sittingbourne News Extra will offer comprehensive coverage of news, sport and leisure in the area.

It follows the decision by Northcliffe Media - part of the Daily Mail group - to close the East Kent Gazette after more than 150 years. The last issue was published yesterday.

Northcliffe Media also closed two other titles in its Kent Regional News and Media (KRN) operation - the Medway News and the Sheppey Gazette. The closures cost a total of 40 jobs.

The Sittingbourne News Extra, with a cover price of 65p, will be published every Wednesday. Matt Ramsden, editor of the new paper pictured above, had this message for local readers: "We appreciate many of you will miss the East Kent Gazette, and we cannot hope to replace 156 years of history. However, we hope you support your new paper and take it as a sign of our commitment to Sittingbourne. We hope you back us as we back you."

The Sittingbourne Messenger, also published by the KM Group, will publish as usual every Friday.

The KM Group recently bid for seven KRN titles, including the three which have closed. However, the deal fell through when the Office of Fair Trading referred it to the Competition Commission, forcing KMG to abandon the deal. In its submission to the OFT, watchdog Ofcom warned that Kent newspapers faced closure if mergers in regional press were blocked.