It has emerged that Ofcom warned competition regulators that blocking KM Group's bid to buy seven Kent local newspapers could mean titles closing.

Local newspaper titles including the Folkestone Herald and Dover Express were on the KM wish list.

The Guardian wrote that blocking KM Group's attempt to buy seven Kent local newspapers from rival Northcliffe Media would likely lead to both publishers closing titles or even going out of business.

The KM Group pulled out of the deal after a decision to refer the bid to the competition regulators.

Read the full story in the Guardian [4]

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©