A new freesheet newspaper called Metro is to be launched this week and its publishers are to seek a High Court order to prevent Independent News & Media from using the title Metro in a new freesheet edition of the Evening Herald, the court heard yesterday.

Mr Paul Gallagher SC, for Metro International, Tidnings AB Metro and Fortunegreen Ltd, said his clients intended to publish their Metro newspaper this week and will be seeking an injunction to prevent Independent News & Media from using the title "Metro".

Mr Brian O'Moore SC, for Independent News & Media, said that his clients intend to launch this week also and intend to use Metro in the title.

Mr Gallagher said that his clients were now in a position to publish and there was no application to restrain them from publishing.

"They only intend to publish if we publish," he said. "We are the people who have the registered trademark."

Mr O'Moore, for Independent News & Media, said: "What concerns us is the synchronicity with the publication of the two titles. The time period after the launch of the titles is critical."

Mr Justice Frank Clarke adjourned the matter for mention again today.