An award-winning free newspaper bought by Johnston Press as part of an £11.2m deal last year is to close in a fresh round of cutbacks to the company's Scottish operations.

The Ayrshire Extra, which has a circulation of 49,384, was among eight weekly titles purchased from Archant in January 2007.

In 2004, the Extra was honoured in the Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership's Good Citizenship Awards for its work in crime prevention.

Also set to close is the 7,500-circulation Glasgow East News. A total of 15 jobs are at risk across the two titles.

In a statement, Johnston Press said: "The Company has announced proposals to re-organise distribution management, administration and telephone sales activities at Academy Park in Glasgow and to cease publishing the Glasgow East News and the Ayrshire Extra.

"A total of 15 jobs are at risk as a result of these proposals and consultation has commenced with those who may be affected."

The move follows last week's proposed cutbacks at Johnston-owned Scotsman Publications which has placed 30 jobs at risk.

Elsewhere the company has also announced cost-cutting measures, including redundancies, at Sheffield, Northampton and London.

The Ayrshire Extra circulates in a large area west of Glasgow including Ayr, Cumnock, Kilmarnock, Prestwick and Troon.

Its proposed closure is believed to affect nine staff, with a further two employees affected by the Glasgow East News shutting down. The other roles under threat are believed to be support roles at Academy Park, home of Johnston Press publication the Glasgow South & Eastwood Extra.

It is not yet know how many of the proposed job losses will be from editorial roles.

The National Union of Journalists held talks with Johnston Press managers yesterday to discuss concerns over the proposed cuts.

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