The proposed cuts, from a total UK workforce of 3,860, come as the group released its half-year results in which it revealed printed revenue for the UK to 30 September 2008 dropped from £284m to £257.2m.

The number of unique advertisers in its printed directories also dipped from 224,000 to 204,000 in the same period where online revenue increased 23.3% to £80.3m.

Despite the cutbacks, the group confirmed it had no plans to curtail the UK run of directories.

In the 2008 financial year, Yell Group distributed 28.4m copies of the Yellow Pages, which is printed at RR Donnelley in Scarborough, with 104 UK editions.

John Condron, chief executive of Yell Group, said the investment would be put into the "growth area" of online products next year, where advertising is "holding up better than print in the economic downturn".

He said that with global economic trends showing no sign of improving, the group is "actively working on further cost reduction programmes that will primarily benefit next year".

The programmes will ensure we continue to invest in our core products, in particular to maintain the momentum of our online services," Condron added.