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The IoS, which is getting ready for new editor Roger Alton, was down to 221,698, having climbed as high as 236,500 in January.

Rivals in the quality Sunday market fared better with the Observer down just 0.49% to 461,739, which is still up on its six-month average by 0.93%. By contrast the Sunday Telegraph's its six-month average was down by 3.49% after falling 1.21% in March to 625,549.

There was better news for the Sunday Times as it managed to show positive figures for the first time in several months. It was up 0.2% to 1,206,517, but its six-month average was down 3.82%.

In the mid market the Sunday Express enjoyed a 1.32% rise to 685,067, but its six-month average was down 11.73%. Its Mail on Sunday rival was up by 0.43% to 2,213,112, but its six-month average was down 1.54%.

Among the red tops, there was rare good circulation news for The People. It was the only title to make it into the black. The Trinity Mirror title was up by 0.74% to 658,726, but its six-month average was steeply down 11.27%, a feat only bested by the Sunday Sport.

That paper was down yet again. It fell by 0.15% to 85,847 and its six-month average was down 13.62%.

The People's stable mate, The Sunday Mirror, was down by 0.71% to 1,338,822 and its six-month average was down a modest 1.52%.

The News of the World fared slightly worse. It fell by 1.9% to 3,218,867 and its six-month average was down 3.72%.

The Daily Star on Sunday fell 1.25% to 361,951 although its six-month average was up 3.76%.

In Scotland the Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday were both up. The Herald by 1.6% to 49,876, its six-month average was down 10.41%, and the SoS up by 5.99% to 71,622, but its six-month average was down 5.83%.

The Sunday Mail fell slightly, dropping 0.3% to 484,181, its six-month average was down 3.32%. Rival the Sunday Post fell by a similar amount dropping 0.44% to 400,134, its six-month average was down 6.71%.