Job Cuts at Guardian, Visitor?

Johnston Press is to move the Lancaster Guardian and Morecambe Visitor's sub-editing and picture desk to Blackpool, after halving the numbers needed.

We also understand there is a freeze on replacing reporters who have left in the last 12 months at both papers.

The national Guardian reported on Johnston's plans to centralise the subediting and picture desk operations of its five north-west newspaper divisions, putting 12 jobs at risk overall on Monday. The company, confirming the plans, also said the cuts, which follow an editorial review, would be discussed with staff.

The publisher is developing two centralised sub-editing units, in Preston and Blackpool, to produce titles including the Chorley Guardian, Lancashire Evening Post, Burnley Express and the Blackpool Gazette.

The changes come in addition to Johnston's plans to centralise operations in other parts of the country, including Northern Ireland.

This is a further erosion of our local newspapers, following the closure of the Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen by owners Newsquest last December (see news story).