By the end of the year, around 170 titles will go through the process, highlighted by chief executive Ashley Highfield as a key component of the group’s publishing strategy to better monetise the digital opportunity.

He said: "In my first few months at Johnston, I have been greatly encouraged by what I have seen in our local operations. Our publishing strategy going forward will ensure that we give our local audiences what they want. We will extend our audience by increasing our online content and making it easier to access in the most relevant ways as technologies continue to evolve.

"Johnston’s focus has always been on local and we will increasingly benefit from that core expertise with the rapid growth in both social media and in demand for access from mobile devices.  We are committed to remaining a local company, that means local journalists and sales people working across the UK and Republic of Ireland, staying close to the communities and businesses they serve."

The initial phase of the re-launch initiative will focus on five centres currently introducing daily print titles – Halifax, Kettering, Northampton, Peterborough and Scarborough.

Each of the 170 paid–for titles will benefit from a major redesign, with bumper issues expected across the newspapers.