The 124-year-old magazine has recently undergone a major redesign and a spokesperson said that the move was partly spurred by this.

The magazine will now feature full colour for the first time, with the layout standardised to position adverts at the back, introduce a contents page and offer a more glossy look and feel.

Previously The Lady was printed at St Ives Andover, but the proposed closure of the site would have meant the printing moving to the Roche plant in St Austell, Cornwall, which the spokesperson said "made life a bit difficult with distribution".

The company chose William Gibbons because of "a very competitive quote" and the fact it is a family-owned company, which fitted well with the magazine's values.

The Lady chief executive and publisher Ben Budworth said: "The relaunch has encouraged us to review every aspect of the magazine and to identify areas we can increase our efficiency.

"William Gibbons & Sons came to us offering  an impeccable printing service at an excellent price and with its long history of family-led success, we feel they are a perfect fit for The Lady."