The Independent has launched a 20p sister title which it says is "a newspaper for the 21st century".

Newspaper i - the first daily national newspaper to be launched in Britain in a generation - is 56 pages long and features condensed versions of the day's news, business and sport, plus entertainment listings and columnists' views.

The scaled-down newspaper features a different design and editorial style to its parent publication and is aimed at busy workers and younger readers.

Group director Andrew Mullins said: "Time-poor newspaper readers, and especially commuters, have been telling us for years that they are inundated with information and just don't have the time to read a quality newspaper on a regular basis."

In an interview with media magazine Press Gazette, he denied the new venture would kill off the main paper.

Mr Mullins said that attracting young people would eventually mean more readers for the Independent.

It is understood that additional production staff have been recruited but existing members of the Independent's editorial team will produce the content featured in i.

Established in 1986, the Independent is now owned by Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev, who also owns the London Evening Standard.