Media: All about ... London evening freesheet war.

Publishers are arming for a fight for the capital.

For many in the media community, especially those with long memories, the manner in which Richard Desmond's Express Newspapers is squaring up to Associated Newspapers in an imminent battle for the hearts and minds of Londoners is spookily familiar.

We've known for two years now that Desmond intends to launch a free evening newspaper in the capital - a counterpart to Metro, the morning freesheet from Associated. Express Newspapers says its launch has been delayed by Associated's control of distribution via the London transport system.

But that monopoly is being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading and a decision is believed to be imminent. Observers say it is likely to go against Associated.

If that's the case, we could be weeks away from the launch of the Desmond title, which will probably be called London i.

So it was perhaps no surprise to see Associated preparing to get its retaliation in first, with plans to launch a free lunchtime version of the Evening Standard, as revealed by Campaign last week. This 'Standard-lite' edition would have fewer pages than its paid-for sister and would be available from noon, then withdrawn at 2pm so as not to damage sales of the Standard's late editions.

All of which will prompt students of media history to recall a previous London newspaper war, when Associated saw off Robert Maxwell's London Daily News in the late 80s, largely by relaunching the London Evening News as a trashy spoiler.