Staff were told on Wednesday morning (19 June) that the firm is to mothball two 32pp M1000 webs, leaving only one 32pp short cut-off M600. Even that press will be put under the control of Chantry, which also specialises in magazine production and is based in nearby Wakefield.

The decision, which is subject to 30 days of consultation, will lead to around 60 redundancies. One web offset printer said Polestars decision to retain just one press at Watmoughs was "extraordinary".

"The short cut-off M600 is the one that publishers want, so why not close Idle and move the M600 to Chantry," he added.

Polestar chief operating officer Chris Pavlosky admitted that that option was a "distinct possibility", either by buying a new press for Chantry and moving the Watmoughs staff, or by moving the existing M600 and its crew to Chantry.

But he said the groups plans did not affect Watmoughs bindery, which will continue to finish the magazines that have moved to Chantry.

BBC Magazines has six of its titles printed by Watmoughs, including Good Food, Wildlife and History, and will be hit hardest by the restructuring.

A spokesman for BBC said: "Regrettably, this is a tough but sensible commercial decision for Polestar." But he said there would be no delay to its magazines on-sale dates despite initial disruption.

Other customers affected by the plans include Redwood, IPC and Avon, for whom Idle prints three to five campaigns a year.

GPMU deputy general secretary Tony Burke was "extremely disappointed".

Story by Gordon Carson