UK national newspaper the Independent and its sister paper, the Independent on Sunday, are to cease print publication at the end of next month, Russian-born owner Evgeny Lebedev said in London.

The other national title in the group, the i, is to be sold to regional newspaper owner Johnston Press, subject to approval from Johnston's shareholders, he said.

Johnston has said it will pay 24 million pounds for the i, which has built up a daily average circulation of over 300,000 since it was launched in October 2010.

The i is a slimmed down version of the Independent, aimed at commuters and selling at 40 pence compared to the Independent's cover price of 1.60 pounds.

The Independent's circulation has dropped to below 60,000 a day in recent months; by contrast News Corp.'s Times, owned by Rupert Murdoch, sells nearly 400,000 a day.

Lebedev also owns the Evening Standard, a London evening newspaper aimed at homeward-bound commuters which has a circulation of over 800,000 and which became a free newspaper in 2009, a move which doubled its circulation.

Lebedev said both the Independent and Independent on Sunday would continue as on-line publications.

To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com