Trinity Mirror’s Welsh subsidiary is to close three district offices in the South Wales Valleys, it was announced today.

Media Wales is axing its offices in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd with the loss of five administrative and advertising roles.

No journalists’ jobs will be lost but reporters currently based in the offices will now work either from home or from the South Wales Echo offices in Cardiff.

The three officers are currently used by staff working for the Celtic Newspapers weeklies – the Glamorgan Gazette, Merthyr Express, Pontypridd Observer, Rhondda Leader and Cynon Valley Leader.

Media Wales said in a statement:  “Media Wales has announced it will be closing its branch offices in Bridgend, Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil.

“The Media Wales publications in these areas will all be retained and there will be no editorial redundancies as a result of this announcement.

“It is intended that the editorial and advertising staff currently working at these offices will either relocate to Media Wales’ Cardiff office at Six Park Street or will work remotely.

“Additionally, it is hoped that Media Wales will be able to secure agreement with prominent businesses in the three town centres, whereby journalists are given access to their premises to hold surgeries in the towns on a regular basis.”

The company said there would be a reduction in headcount of approximately five advertising management and administrative roles and that it had entered into a period of consultation with all affected staff.

Martin Shipton, spokesman for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Media Wales, told the BBC: “Obviously we are pleased that no editorial jobs are being lost and we are anxious to ensure that coverage of local news continues to the same degree as in the past.”