Printing presses which have produced a regional daily for the past 40 years could be closed as part of plans by its parent company.

Newsquest is consulting with staff at its Worcester printing press, where the Worcester News is produced.

The company says the press, pictured below, is “limited”, which has led to sister weekly Berrow’s Worcester Journal, reputed to be the world’s oldest newspaper, being printed from Oxford in recent years.

Consultations with the printing staff who would be affected are due to be completed towards the end of July.

An announcement on the website of the News reads: “This would mean titles like the daily Worcester News and a number of weekly newspapers currently printed at Worcester would be printed at centres with better printing facilities.

“The world’s oldest paper, the Berrow’s Worcester Journal, has not been printed at Worcester for a number of years because of the limitations of the press, and has been switched to Oxford because it allowed more flexibility over size and colour capability.

“The news and advertising services for the Worcester papers will continue to be based in the city. The Hylton Road offices are the HQ of Newsquest’s highly successful and award-winning Midlands South Region.”

Newsquest declined to say how many staff are affected by the proposal when asked by HTFP.