In Audit Bureau of Circulation figures released last week, The Sunday Telegraph, printed at West Ferry, Trafford Park Printers and a number of contract sites, added more than 50,000 copies to reach average sales of 714,992 for the month.

The paper (pictured) underwent a redesign billed as "female-friendly" in November following the appointment of new editor Sarah Sands.

Scottish paper The Sunday Herald added around 3,000 sales to reach 61,452 in the month, following a move to a tabloid format.

The Guardian slipped again despite its move to the Berliner format, down 0.6% to 401,029. The figure drew scorn from Times editor Robert Thompson, who drew attention to the paper's high overseas sales.

"They have had to resort to foreign copy to keep the sale above 400,000," he said. "Now we know what they mean by Berliner they've suddenly found thousands of new readers in Berlin."

Circulation for The Times also dropped in the month, down around 12,000, or 1.74%, to 691,283.