<div><p>The London Evening Standard's headline sale rose 6.93% year on year in June, moving afternoon rival the London Paper to issue a press release attacking the figures. </p><p>Headline circulation for the Evening Standard was 295,379 copies for June. </p><p>However, bulk distribution - which readers can pick up free from hotels, airlines and gyms, which pay a nominal fee - accounted for 42% of the headline figure, up from 38% in May and 35% in April, according to figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations published today. </p><p>Full price sales of the 50p Standard in June were 169,730, while bulks stood at 123,636. </p><p>News International's rival title, the London Paper freesheet, issued a press release today headlined: "Evening Standard: 7% up year on year or worst sales ever?"</p><p>The London Paper's managing director, Ian Clark, said: "With the Standard's sales at a historic low and bulks increasing at a staggering rate, the Standard's bulks look set to overtake paid-for sales by the end of the summer. We welcome them to the land of the free." </p><p>In June, the London Paper distributed more than 500,000 copies for the sixth month in a row, giving out an average of 500,800 each weekday. </p><p>Its freesheet rival, the Evening Standard's Associated Newspapers stablemate London Lite, distributed 400,739 copies daily on average last month.</p><p>London's free morning financial newspaper, City AM, claimed a record free distribution of 101,885 copies a day. The paper has expanded its distribution to stations including St John's Wood and Putney.</p><p>Associated Newspapers' free morning flagship, Metro, distributed 1,360,597 copies each weekday across the country.</p><p><em><em class="bold">·</em> To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email <a href="mailto:editor@mediaguardian.co.uk">editor@mediaguardian.co.uk</a> or phone 020 7239 9857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 7278 2332.</em></p><p><em><em class="bold">·</em> If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".</em></p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=28628059&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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