The six-monthly figures, released this morning, show that overall circulation for the sector is up 23% to 2,562,646 compared to December's figures.

IPC's Nuts has taken the early lead on Emap's Zoo in the battle of the weekly lads' genre, with a circulation of 290,337 compared to 200,125.

Nuts is printed at Polestar Chantry, while Cooper Clegg prints both Zoo and its stablemate FHM.

The men's monthlies have taken a slight hit from the arrival of their new rivals, with Loaded, Maxim, FHM, Front, Bizarre and Esquire all losing market share.

Meanwhile Jack, the first men's compact magazine which has been axed by publisher Dennis, posted a circulation of 38,445. The title was also printed at Cooper Clegg.

In the mostly stable women's lifestyle and fashion sector, Conde Nast's Glamour broke through the 600,000 mark, with circulation up 4% to 605,747. The title, at one time a Cooper Clegg contract, is now produced gravure at Bertelsmann subsidiary Maul-Belser in Germany.

In the women's weekly arena, the biggest winner was Emap's celebrity gossip mag Closer, printed by New Jarrold Printing, with a 24.7% increase to 480,187.

New!, from Richard Desmond's pastiche publisher Northern & Shell, which is also home to OK! and Star, jumped 20.8% to 403,864.

Meanwhile, Heat's figures cooled further, posting a second consecutive loss in circulation of 4.6% to 540,556.

Story by Josh Brooks