PrintWeek understands that employees were informed of the decision over the weekend.

The announcement has been met with criticism from both Unite and the National Union of Journalists, who claim that it goes back on an agreement made in 2007. Newsquest opted not to scrap the final salary scheme three years ago on the understanding that employees would increase their contributions.

Unite national officer Steve Sibbald said: "The members are very unhappy. A few years ago they agreed to a big increase in their contributions in order to keep the final salary scheme. Now they go and close it anyway – the workers must be devastated.

"We will be discussing this at the local sites before we decide whether or not to take on a national strategy, but it is almost inevitable what will happen."

If the scheme does close at the end of the consultation, it will probably mean the end of the last major final salary pension scheme in the newspaper sector.

Early in 2010, Johnston Press closed its scheme, following on from Trinity Mirror, which did likewise in late 2009.

Newsquest was unavailable for comment.