Scottish Radio Holdings is still seeking further acquisitions, following its move to take over the Ireland on Sunday title and two provincial newspapers..

The media group is understood to be poised to buy the Roscommon Champion and Longford News. The group's interest in further acquisitions was announced as it showed a slip in first-half profits.

Higher interest payments trimmed pre-tax profits to £6.4 million sterling (€10.6 million), down from £7.2 million. But operating profits, which exclude the interest costs, were up 5 per cent on last year at £7.4 million.