The National Union of Journalists now has collective bargaining rights across Trinity Mirror titles in England after a chapel in the North West gained recognition.

The union said Trinity Mirror Chester was previously the only subsidiary of the company without union recognition but that has now changed after an influx of new members.

Around 15 journalists are said to have joined the NUJ from offices in Chester and Crewe following job cuts on titles including the Chester Chronicle, which have been made in recent years.

The union needed at least half of all journalists at the centres to join in order for it to have recognition and gained 25 out of 34 staff as members, giving a proportion of 74pc.

David Triggs, joint FoC in Cheshire, said: “In the space of just a few weeks earlier this year, we went from having a handful of NUJ members to having a significant majority. Talks with the company went smoothly and a house agreement is now in place.”