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Newspaper group Trinity Mirror has said it expects its first-half advertising revenue to fall by 1.5 per cent due to the volatility of the market.

In a trading update the Daily Mirror publisher revealed that advertising revenues for its regional division were set to drop by 1.6 per cent in the 26 weeks to July 1st.

Motoring ads are set to experience the largest drop within the regional business, with revenues set to fall by 10.1 per cent, alongside a 1.6 per cent slump in recruitment advertising.

Revenue generated from property ads is however set to increase by 3.9 per cent over the first half, Trinity Mirror predicts.

Meanwhile although advertising revenues within the group's national unit are also expected to fall by 2.4 per cent over the period, the company expects to report a 2.3 per cent growth in revenues across its Scottish newspaper division.

Trinity Mirror stressed that despite the overall drop in advertising revenues, it expected its full-year performance to be in line with expectations as stability in the market improved.

"Whilst the advertising environment remains volatile from month to month we continue to see improved stability in our advertising markets as the rate of decline slows," the group said.

Overall circulation revenues are also expected to have increased by 0.7 per cent across the group in the first-half, Trinity Mirror said.

Digital revenues within its regional unit are likewise expected to have achieved "strong" underlying growth of 25.2 per cent over the period.

Trinity Mirror added that it continued to "make progress" over the disposal of its sport division and regional businesses in the Midlands, London and the south east.

In selling the units the company is hoping to streamline its publishing and advertising businesses and generate cash for internet investments.

The first of the planned disposals are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with the process set to be complete by the third quarter, the newspaper group confirmed.