Polestar and St Ives have been hit after IPC announced the closure of six under-performing titles as part of an on-going review of its portfolio.

Culled titles include monthlies Womans Journal, Homes & Ideas, and Marie Claire Health & Beauty, which were printed by St Ives with repro supplied by Argent Colour.

The final issues of Practical Parentings Complete Guide to Pregnancy, which will be absorbed into its parent title, and Your Garden will be produced by Polestar Chantry in January.

Production of IPC Connects weekly Your Life, launched in April and printed at Polestar Petty, has ceased. All the magazines will have had their last issues printed by February.

AOL Time Warner bought IPC in July for 1.15bn. A source close to the publisher said: "This is not the kind of news that you want to come out if youre trying to float or sell a business, but now the deal is done they can sort out what they should have done 12 months ago."

IPC has also closed IPC Live!, its events and exhibitions business.

Story by John Davies