The paper first appeared as a “serial weekly” – a four-page journal containing two pages of local news, a few advertisements, then general news supplied by a London agency.

By the mid-80s, free newspaper rivals were increasing in number and the group went on the attack by launching its own free newspaper - the Barnet Borough Times. It was also around this time that the Times series changed size from broadsheet to tabloid.

In 1987, after seeing the success of the free Barnet title, the Hendon, Edgware – and later the Borehamwood editions – followed suit.