The Sunday Herald newspaper is being cancelled from next month, it has been announced.

It will be replaced by a Sunday edition of the Herald, with the same journalists and production team working over both titles.

The last ever Sunday Herald will go on sale on September 2 with the new Herald on Sunday launching the following week.

A Sunday edition of pro-independence newspaper The National will be launched on the same day.

Staff at the newspapers have been told that The Herald - including the new Sunday edition - will "remain neutral" on independence, while the National and Sunday National will support the movement to break away from the UK.

Publisher Newsquest said the decision reflected "feedback from readers and advertisers alike that their needs were not being fully met on a Sunday".

Newsquest Scotland managing director Graham Morrison said: "This is a highly competitive industry and to be successful requires innovation, diversification and investment to ensure we deliver the media and marketing platforms our customers want.

"It has been clear for some time that Herald readers wanted a seven-day offering with closer alignment of the brand and the title's editorial values on a Sunday.

"By launching The Herald on Sunday and extending the National title to seven days a week we are able to give our audience and advertisers a clearer and better choice."

Newsquest Scotland editor-in-chief and editor of the seven-day Herald Donald Martin added: "The Herald on Sunday will take the best of our journalism and columnists, and offer a weekend package unrivalled for the Scottish market.

"The National has been a tremendous success since its launch almost four years ago and it is clear there is a growing appetite to extend its superbly targeted journalism across the seven days."

Although the move had been widely anticipated, media insiders expressed their concerns on social media following the announcement on Thursday.

Freelance journalist Ruth Wishart said: "Sad to hear of the merger of The Herald and Sunday Herald titles.

"Their political outlook is hardly interchangeable. Now of all times we need independent voices."

Writer and academic Gerry Hassan, like Ms Wishart, has been a regular contributor to the Herald.

He accused Newsquest of making the changes to cut costs, and said of The Sunday Herald: "For just under 20 years it has provided a different and refreshing take on Scotland, culture and politics.

"(It) has been a platform for some great writing and journalism. Sad to see it go."