After being suspended for almost three months, Chinese newspaper Oriental News Daily hit the newsstands on New Year's day, but faced various circulation obstacles which its publishers alleged is the work of their rivals.

The company is now mulling legal action against those responsible for the 'blockage'.

Around 200,000 complimentary copies were distributed yesterday after the staff took to the streets themselves to help out.

When contacted on the phone this afternoon, the daily's editor-in-chief Puah You Lai ( photo ) said many vendors who had agreed to sell the paper suddenly withdrew.

Many of the production staff also failed to show up, which left the publishers with no choice but to get their other workers to fold and distribute the newspapers.