More than 80 jobs could be lost as part of the proposals – 69 at the company's Northampton Web plant, which faces the prospect of closure. A further 13 jobs are at risk at Peterborough Web as Johnston Press looks to reduce capacity.

A consultation on the proposals is currently being run and will be complete by 29 August 2008.

A statement from Johnston Press said: "Prior to any implementation, employees will be consulted extensively on an individual and collective basis.

"In the event this proposal goes ahead, the company will endeavour to minimise the impact of the proposal through voluntary redundancy and by redeployment to alternative positions within the company and the JP Group."

Unite the Union has been in discussions with Johnston Press, as well as members, in the lead up to this consultation, however the organisation is not confident of saving the jobs.

National officer Steve Sibbald said: "We are not playing the ostrich, we know that when a company airs its intentions to close, the times we get a turnaround is one in a million.

"With the state of the market as it is chances are pretty remote. You have News International and Trinity Mirror walking around saying we can print everything because they have so much space.

"News International are desperate to fill their 85,000 copies per hour presses until they have virtually cornered the market, then watch their prices go up.

"With the reduction in advertising revenue and circulation along with the most dramatic increase in newspaper printing capacity we have ever seen in the UK, it is inevitable that this will continue to happen."

He added: "We will do everything we can to alleviate the affect this has on our members most of who have worked in the industry for many decades."