According to Scottish news agency allmediascotland.com Express owner Richard Desmond attended a "detailed presentation" concerning plans for a Scottish printing centre earlier this week.

He has already announced a £100m investment in KBA presses somewhere on the outskirts of London to replace its Westferry print plant.

However, this is the first time that a plant away from the capital has been mooted.

Desmond currently has four Scottish titles, the Scottish Daily Express, Daily Star of Scotland, Scottish Sunday Express and Scottish Daily Star Sunday, which are printed by DC Thomson in Glasgow.

The company recently announced the closure of its Dundee plant, which may have alerted Desmond.

Unite national officer Steve Sibbald said that the plant would be welcomed by its members.

"It can only be good news for the industry," he said. "Especially with Johnston Press closing its Caledonian plant. There are probably a lot of minders kicking around that would love the opportunity for work. It would put our members in a much stronger position as well."