A COUNCIL-RUN newspaper that costs taxpayers almost £400,000 a year to produce could be scrapped, after a motion to discontinue production was tabled.

The Conservative-led North Yorkshire County Council publishes 11 issues a year of North Yorkshire Times (NYT), which is distributed to about 300,000 homes and businesses across the county.

Liberal Democrat councillors hope the motion to axe the publication, which is due to be raised at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, will win cross-party support.

The move follows last week’s pledge to clamp down on "frivolous town hall propaganda papers" by communities secretary Eric Pickles.

Councillor Bill Hoult, leader of the Lib Dems at County Hall, has tabled the motion, which will be seconded by Coun Geoff Webber.

It reads: "[It is moved] that, in view of the dire economic circumstances facing the county council and the recent criticism by the coalition government of council-funded newspapers, that the council ceases publication and distribution of its monthly newspaper as soon as practically possible."