A new Sunday edition of the Sun will be launched by troubled News International to fill the void left by the News of the World, it has been reported.

The BBC reported last night that the popular sister paper of the NOTW would be published seven days a week.

The name 'Sun on Sunday' has been registered this week along with the domain name thesunonsunday.co.uk, observers noted.

It was registered two days ago by a web design company called Mediaspring.

Nicholas Grant, an analyst with Mediatrack, said: "Initially there's going to be a scramble for readership among the other papers.

"But (News International) are not going to throw their readers away very easily.

"They are not going to want to surrender that audience," said Mr Grant.

However, he added: "They wouldn't be stupid enough to try and bring out a snap new title next week."

If the News of the World was to relaunch under a new name it would not be able to use the title the Sunday Sun, as this already exists in Newcastle.