Associated Newspapers has secured a deal to lift circulation of its national morning freesheet Metro by 250,000 copies. The move is designed to beat rival News International.

The deal will increase Metro's circulation in London by 205,000 copies to more than 750,000 and another 45,000 will be spread among eight editions in other cities throughout the United Kingdom.

In London, the morning freesheets will be also distributed to 250 new stations in and around the city and the southeast commuter belt.

Associated Newspapers said the deal will grow Metro's daily circulation to 1.36 million copies across 16 UK cities.

The deal will kick off in mid-September and be over by Oct. 1, which will bring pressure on the News International-owned afternoon freesheet the London Paper, and Metro's Associated sister paper London Lite.

"Metro has established a fantastic relationship with young, working ABC1 commuters but many of our target audience have not been able to pick up a copy of the newspaper so we are extending the supply," Metro's managing director, Steve Auckland is quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Mr. Auckland added that with over 5 million "urbanites" in the UK – more than half in London - there is "still room for us to grow without diluting our reader profile."

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