TNP's decision follows the transfer of a Daily Mail run away from the firm's Plymouth plant, which freed up a slot to print the Exeter Express & Echo at the recently modernised site.

A 30-day consultation period with the unions began last Monday (13 June) over the closure of the Exeter plant, which runs an 80pp single-width Goss Super Gazette and a 32pp single-width Halley Aller.

Duncan Currall, TNP South West regional managing director, said that the firm was "exploring all possibilities" for Exeter, but said that the most likely outcome would be a closure. "The leads are very long on the Exeter press and colour is very limited," he said.

Colour capacity on the Goss HT60 line at TNP's Plymouth site was upgraded last year to a maximum of 144pp colour in a 160pp tabloid in collect mode.

Story by Josh Brooks