It is entirely fair to say that yesterday's BBC news item on council newspapers has produced a bigger reaction than I can remember for a long time.

Feedback is still coming in today after I was interviewed on BBC news about my concerns about publicly-funded council publications competing with local newspapers for advertising revenue.

Sometimes, issues strike a chord with the public and this is certainly one of them.

I even had a report today about one council publication in the North-East which is now inserting leaflets from advertisers.

I am in the process of having this checked out and more details will follow.

If this proves to be the case, it represents increasing encroachment into the territory of local independent newspapers which are vital to the future of democracy.

Council taxpapers are being used to subsidise publications that are being distributed free to householders and helping to kill off local newspapers which hold local authorities to account.

That has to be unfair competition and it can't be right.

There is very clearly a groundswell of public opinion out there about this issue and councils should take careful note of it.