National and regional newspaper publishers have called for the BBC to curb its digital operations amid growing concern of the damage its expansion could cause.

The News Media Association, which represents news organisations across the UK, including KentOnline publisher the KM Group, said the Beeb’s strategy to grow its online operations locally threatens to erode variety in the market.

It has called on the government to implement 10 changes to the BBC’s objectives to “put cooperation at the heart of its guiding principles”, as part of the BBC Charter Review.

This includes controls on the scope of BBC news online and a commitment to source news content from existing news providers rather than replicating their coverage.

News Media Association chairman Mike Darcey, the outgoing chief executive of the Sun and the Times publisher News UK, said: “News brands are successfully making the transition to a sustainable digital world despite undoubted challenges and risks along the way.

“The BBC must not be given free rein to jeopardise that transition by expanding its local or international news services under the guise of providing a universal solution for a market failure which doesn’t exist.”

The 69-page report, compiled by Oliver & Ohlbaum, claims the public faces a poor choice in future unless the BBC adopts a cooperative approach with regional news organisations.

It says: “The execution of partnership strategies is never easy and will require cultural change, management will and strong oversight.

“However the potential benefits to the sustainability of the UK news sector overall... are worth the effort.

"The alternative vision of the future is much less desirable - a UK news media landscape dominated by social media, global news providers and with the BBC trying to fight in all corners.”

“The UK’s news media landscape will be best served by a BBC which genuinely collaborates with news media publishers rather than competing with them..." - Ashley Highfield, Johnston Press

Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield said: “The UK’s news media landscape will be best served by a BBC which genuinely collaborates with news media publishers rather than competing with them.

"This would make far better use of the BBC’s stretched resources while allowing space for commercial news media to innovate and thrive.

“The BBC repeatedly seeks to portray itself as a willing partner but all too often fails to deliver.

"The O&O report outlines a framework for cooperation through content-sharing targets and effective governance to enable the BBC to focus on what it is good at and make a positive contribution to a diverse UK media industry.”

The report estimates that local, regional and national news brands spend £1.2 billion a year on news provision.

Alongside this, the BBC, Sky and ITN all contribute to a further £430m spent on original TV news content.

Mr Darcey added: “This makes our sector the powerhouse for investment in UK journalism and the originators of content relied upon by broadcast, online and social media outlets every day.”

Click here to read why KM Group editorial director Ian Carter says regional news deserves credit from the BBC and the internet giants.