The figure, taken from wholesale estimates, is above the publisher's target circulation of 250,000 after a year on sale. However, the figure follows an £18m investment and a reduced cover price of 80p. The title switches to its regular £1.30 cover price from this issue, supported by TV advertising.
IPC is also to overhaul its women's weekly title Woman's Own, to counter the twin threat of newer real-life magazines and ACP-Natmag's Best, which now outsells it by more than 5,000 copies.