Debut for cross-community paper

The first edition of another new daily newspaper has been launched in Belfast.

The cross-community Daily View, produced by News Letter publisher Local Press Ltd, makes its debut on Monday.

A lifestyle-orientated newspaper for the greater Belfast area, it is the second new title this year following the February launch of Daily Ireland.

Last month, the Belfast Telegraph launched a morning tabloid edition while the Irish News also relaunched in a smaller "compact" format.

This latest addition means Belfast is now catered for by five morning newspapers.

Twenty-one staff are being employed at the paper, which will be published Monday to Friday.

Editor Greg Harkin insisted it would offer a real alternative.

"The Daily View is different in that we are completely non-political, both in content and in ethos," he said.

"The people of Belfast and surrounding towns and cities are fed up with the green and orange of politics and are more interested these days in real politics, that is the bread and butter issues, social issues, lifestyle and property.

"We will give these issues the prominence they deserve."

Local Press Ltd was formed by venture capital company 3i following its purchase of the News Letter and Derry Journal group of newspapers from Trinity Mirror last year.