Compulsory Acqn of Shares

Trinity Mirror PLC
12 December 2000


Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States,
Canada, Japan or Australia

                               Trinity Mirror plc

                     Recommended Cash Offer for Southnews plc

           Compulsory acquisition of outstanding Southnews Shares

Trinity Mirror announces that, as at 3.00 pm on 11 December 2000, being the
last business day prior to this announcement, Trinity Mirror Regionals had
received valid acceptances in respect of, or acquired, a total of 18,704,770
Southnews Shares, representing in aggregate, approximately 99.0 per cent. of
the 18,897,456 Southnews Shares to which the Offer relates.

As a result, Trinity Mirror Regionals has now received valid acceptances in
respect of, or acquired, a total of 23,327,408 Southnews Shares representing
in aggregate, approximately, 99.2 per cent. of Southnews' issued share
capital.

Consequently and in accordance with the terms of the terms of the Offer set
out in the Offer Document dated 1 November 2000, Trinity Mirror Regionals is
now taking the necessary steps to acquire compulsorily under the provisions of
the Companies Act 1985 those Southnews Shares in respect of which Trinity
Mirror Regionals has not yet received valid acceptances.  The Offer (including
the Loan Note Alternative) will remain open for acceptance until further
notice.

Definitions used in the offer document dated 1 November 2000 shall, unless the
context otherwise requires, apply throughout this announcement.

Enquiries:

Trinity Mirror                    020 7293 3000

Philip Graf
Margaret Ewing


Greenhill & Co.                   020 7440 0400

Simon Borrows
Brian Cassin


Finsbury                          020 7251 3801

Rupert Younger
James Leviton


The Directors of Trinity Mirror and the Directors of Trinity Mirror Regionals
accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement.  To
the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors of Trinity Mirror and
the Directors of Trinity Mirror Regionals (who have taken all reasonable care
to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this
announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.

Greenhill & Co., which is regulated in the United Kingdom by The Securities
and Futures Authority Limited, is acting for Trinity Mirror and Trinity Mirror
Regionals and for no one else in relation to the Offer and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Trinity Mirror and Trinity Mirror Regionals
for providing the protections afforded to customers of Greenhill & Co., nor
for providing advice in relation to the Offer.

The Offer (including the Loan Note Alternative) is not being made, directly or
indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be,
mailed or otherwise distributed or sent into or from the United States,
Canada, Japan or Australia.

The Loan Notes will not be listed on any stock exchange and have not been, and
will not be, registered under the Securities Act or under any relevant
securities laws of any state of the United States and the relevant clearances
have not been, and will not be, obtained from the regulatory authority of any
province or territory of Canada.  In addition, no prospectus in relation to
the Loan Notes has been, or will be, lodged with or registered by the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission and no steps have been, nor
will be, taken to enable the Loan Notes to be offered in compliance with the
applicable securities laws of Japan or any other country or jurisdiction
outside the United Kingdom.  The Loan Notes will not be offered, sold, resold,
delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into the United
States, Canada, Japan or Australia or any other jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the relevant laws in such jurisdiction.