THE victor in the Tyneside free newspaper war has won Government approval to acquire its defeated rival's assets.

Department of Trade and Industry Minister Alan Johnson has given the go-ahead for the sale of The Morning News to Trinity Mirror, owners of Newcastle's Journal and Evening Chronicle paid-for titles.

The Journal and Chronicle launched their free newspaper Metro early last year, two weeks before international publisher Metro International hit the streets with its title.

Metro International originally planned to call its paper Metro, but its rival won an injunction forcing it to change the name to Morning News.

Metro International, which publishes in 14 countries, usually around capital cities, shut the Morning News last December. Metro is still going.

The size of Trinity Mirror meant that the sale would have been referred to the Competition Commission, but the Morning News is not a going concern and there are no plans to revive the title.

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said: "Trinity Mirror has applied for consent to purchase certain assets of the Morning News including the title's trademarks, intellectual property rights, back catalogue and customer lists.

"Mr Johnson was satisfied that the Morning News is not economic as a going concern and that the applicant does not intend to continue the title as a separate newspaper.

"He was therefore required under Section 58(3)(b) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to consent unconditionally to the transfer of assets without a Competition Commission enquiry."