A review by Guardian Media Group (GMG) Regional Newspapers is under way for print arrangements for its northern titles. It uses four presses at Trafford Park to print MEN as well as The Guardian and The Observer.

GMG chief executive Bob Phillis said that the move to replace the 20-year-old presses with full colour was "something we feel we need to do for our readers and our advertisers".

Phillis confirmed that no decision had yet been taken on a press supplier, but that he hoped "to be more definitive in the autumn".

The review follows news earlier this month that GMG has earmarked 50m to switch its national titles to a mid-size Berliner format which would also require new presses.

Phillis said: "There's no intention to move away from tabloid format as far as the regionals are concerned.

"You've got to have a format that fits your marketplace."

He added that some GMG production could eventually move away from Trafford Park.

"If one looks down the tunnel, when we've got new presses for the regionals do we want them on the same site [as the nationals] or do we want to split production in some way?" Phillis asked.