NEWSPAPER group Gannet, the ultimate owner of the Southern Daily Echo, is on the acquisition trail.

The group is planning to spread its wings north of the border with the purchase of the Glasgow based Herald newspaper titles.

Papers including the Herald, Sunday Herald and the Evening Times are among the package with Gannet offering £215 million for the deal.

Gannet had been in competition with the Independent's publisher to secure the group but an increased offer from the American based Gannet looks to have tied up the deal.

In the UK Gannet's Newsquest group already operates more than 300 titles and employs more than 9,000 people.