Johnston Press, the second largest local newspaper group in the UK and publisher of The Scotsman, plans to launch a news subscription service via mobile phone across its 120 titles next year.

The company said it will partner with telecommunications provider g8wave to roll out the service.

Subscribers can choose between either a general news alert service or updates.

Third-party advertising opportunities are under investigation. Trials will be carried out at regional titles first, before they are extended across larger publications.

Johnston Press tried to build up a database of potential users of the service through local marketing initiatives, such as "text to win" competitions and download discount vouchers, which can be used to redeem services and products, according to Brand Republic.

"We are starting at a small base, but growing rapidly. In the past few months we have seen month-on-month growth of up to 40 percent at some titles, but they are still very small numbers,” said Chris Pennock, group newspaper sales and marketing director of Johnston Press.

"What it shows, though, is that there is a market and an interest in this type of technology," Pennock added.