The National Union of Journalists has voiced its alarm over plans for eight compulsory redundancies as a group of Scottish titles.

As reported earlier this week, the union says eight editorial staff have been selected for redundancy at the Newsquest-owned Herald & Times Group in Glasgow, in addition to nine who have taken voluntary redundancy.

Union members at the group, which publishes The Herald, Evening Times and Sunday Herald, were balloted on industrial action earlier this month with the result due to be announced on 25 July.

The Newsquest group chapel has now issued a statement voicing alarm at what it calls the “brutal pace” of the redundancies.

Bob Smith, father of the group chapel said: “Our colleagues at the Herald and its associated papers have the full support of the Newsquest group chapel.

“The rush to impose more cuts on Scotland’s prime newspapers can only harm them in the long term and would undoubtedly increase the workload on already hard-pressed staff.

“It’s time Newsquest’s managers learned that it is investment that its titles need, not slashing staff and quality.”

The Herald & Times group has not so far responded to the union’s comments.