The independent Nottingham & Long Eaton Topper recorded the biggest average distribution for the period of 209,222 copies - down 1.2% on the previous six months. Circulation for the Nottingham Recorder, the second most-read free UK regional title, was also broadly in line with previous periods, up 1.2% period on period to 151,904 copies.
ABC director Martyn Gates said the lack of circulation movement reflected the nature of ABC sampling, which currently takes into account only door-to-door deliveries of freesheets, not picked-up copies.
From August, the picture of free regional circulations will be clearer. The ABC is introducing combined reports, showing publishers' home-delivered and picked-up circulation figures on one certificate, along with their paid-for circulation.
The MEN Weekly Free Newspapers Group, which includes Manchester Metro News and the Salford Advertiser, but not the free version of the Manchester Evening News, posted an average distribution of 737,715 copies for the period.
It was dwarfed by Northcliffe Newspapers Group, part of Daily Mail and General Trust, which recorded a combined distribution across its free titles of more than 2.8 million, up 24.9% period on period and 21.7% year on year.
The group acquired three local divisions from Trinity Mirror for £64.15m in July: Kent Regional Newspapers, East Surrey and Sussex Newspapers, and Blackmore Vale Publishing.
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