Chief executive Bill Wenman said he hoped most of the losses would be through voluntary severance.

He said the firms forecasts showed a serious downturn in volumes next year, adding that it was essential that it acted now to protect the plants long-term viability and the interests of shareholders and customers.

West Ferry is jointly owned by Express Newspapers and the Telegraph Group and has been the subject of legal wrangling between the two sides since Northern & Shell took over the Express a year ago.