The government has started its own legal action against Greenwich Council over its weekly newspaper Greenwich Time.

Secretary of State Eric Pickles had ordered the council to cease publishing the paper more than quarterly.

But Greenwich has refused to comply and already announced it will seek a judicial review.

Now the government has issued its own High Court action to enforce the order.

Minister for Local Government Kris Hopkins said: "It is disappointing that Greenwich council has refused to comply with our direction to stop the weekly publication of its municipal newspaper."

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: “The council uses Greenwich Time to place statutory notices and to tell residents about essential services, housing and jobs because it offers by far the best value to residents.

“This has been confirmed by a recent procurement process which invited bids from local newspapers in relation to our advertising and found that we would have to pay more for less.”

A petition calling for the council to cease publication of its paper has 120 signatures so far.