A hyperlocal publisher in the UK says it will more than double the number of towns it covers this year.

Karl Hancock says his Nub Network will expand from 62 towns to more than 100, recruiting more journalists in the process, UK trade publication holdthefrontpage.co.uk has reported.

The project attracted the support of Britain's state media and data minister John Whittingdale when it launched in his home town of Maldon in Essex last year. Hancock says a "virtuous circle of opportunity" has arisen from the demise of the regional press, the lockdown focus on communities and the migration of corporate marketing away from traditional commercial models towards sponsorship.