Visitors to www.armidaleexpress.com.au from October 16 will be able to subscribe for full website access to the latest news from Armidale for only $2 a week.

As announced last month, the new subscription offer will include around-the-clock digital access to all of the local news, sport and opinion published by The Armidale Express, as well as essential community information and the latest national news and sport, plus lifestyle, health and travel advice.

Subscribers will also get access to digital replicas of each day’s print edition of The Armidale Express, so they can read every page of the newspaper on their tablet or desktop. There’s also the option to receive regular news updates, including breaking-news alerts, by email.

From October 16, Armidale Express readers who want to subscribe can opt to pay monthly and get the first 30 days of access for free. Or they can pay for an annual subscription, receive 20 per cent off plus the first month of access for free.

In a message to Armidale region audiences and advertisers, editor Laurie Bullock said the introduction of a local news subscription would allow audiences to choose the way they wanted to support The Armidale Express to continue providing its valued journalism and community information.

“We need to make sure we can continue to deliver the coverage our community expects and deserves,” Laurie Bullock said. “And our audience is increasingly reading our local journalism online via their smartphones and tablets.

“By subscribing for full online access, you will be supporting The Armidale Express to continue its mission to deliver the local journalism that keeps our community informed, entertained and connected.”

Some content at www.armidaleexpress.com.au will remain open to all website visitors after October 16, including classified advertisements, such as birth and funeral notices, and recommended articles featuring local businesses.

Visitors can also sign up to have a free newsletter emailed regularly to their inbox, making it easier to browse the latest headlines and see what’s making news across Armidale.

The website changes will not affect the printed version of The Armidale Express, which will continue to be published Wednesday and Friday.