A Hertfordshire newspaper published by Newsquest has had two pages from another of the publisher’s titles included by mistake in what has been called a ‘printing error’.

The 14 June 2023 issue of the Welwyn Hatfield Times, which covers Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, Welwyn, Potters Bar, and the surrounding areas, features two pages from sister title the South Wales Guardian.

The error meant that readers of the Welwyn Hatfield Times saw stories about a company administration in the Amman Valley in Carmarthenshire, and a “dishonest” headteacher at a school in Ammanford, instead of Hertfordshire news, on page 2.

Meanwhile, Rugby World Cup coverage relating to Wales was featured instead of local sport on what is numbered page 31 of the South Wales Guardian but is in place of what should have been page 39 of the Welwyn Hatfield Times.

The ’flannel panel’ of contact details for the paper’s team and other information about the South Wales Guardian also features on page 2 of this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times. The title’s correct flannel panel does still appear in the paper, however, on page 16.

In a statement on the Welwyn Hatfield Times’ website, senior group editor Michael Adkins said: “Due to a printing error in this week’s Welywn Hatfield Times, pages 2 and 31 have been published incorrectly.

“I would like to apologise to our readers and advertisers for this rare occurrence and have asked for more vigilance in the future from our press.”

He also thanked readers for their ongoing support and supplied an email address to direct any further questions to.

The exact nature of the printing error was not disclosed, and Newsquest did not want to comment further when contacted by Printweek.

One of the UK’s largest regional news publishers, Newsquest has a portfolio of over 250 local news brands and magazines online and in print. Its website states it has an online audience of 41 million users a month and seven million readers a week in print.

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