Northern Echo newspaper to introduce pay-wall

The Northern Echo covers the North East of England and North Yorkshire and has a circulation of 29,000

The Northern Echo will charge people to read its articles online, its editor has announced.

Writing on the Echo's website, Peter Barron said readers will get up to 20 stories a month for free but will have to pay £1 a week for unlimited access to the site and an app.

For £3.47 readers can get digital content and the Darlington-based paper six days a week.

The announcement has sparked a mixed reaction.

Mr Barron said: "Quality journalism costs money to produce but we have made it great value with a combination of print and online packages."

Comments on the newspaper's website, which have now been closed, said the Echo has "signed its death warrant".

On Twitter, Tori Gill Media said she would begrudge paying for both online and print content.

But Couriersnortheast said: "I love this paper, the best out there."