Currently each of the seven Celtic weeklies in the Trinity Mirror-owned Media Wales network has its own editor, but it is now proposed that most of the titles will share a boss.

The company has also announced plans to close three of its six branch offices in the Valleys, at Aberdare, Ebbw Vale and Neath.

NUJ members working at Media Wales have already voted to hold a strike ballot if any members are threatened with compulsory redundancy as a result of the changes.

The seven titles affected are the Merthyr Express, Rhymney Valley and Gwent Gazette, Rhondda Leader, Pontypridd Observer, Cynon Valley Leader, Glamorgan Gazette and Neath and Port Talbot Guardian.

It is proposed that there will be one editor for Merthyr Express and Rhymney Valley and Gwent Gazette, one for the Rhonda Leader and Pontypridd Observer, one for the Cynon Valley Leader and a fourth for the Glamorgan Gazette and the Neath and Port Talbot Guardians.

A new position of West Wales Multimedia editor will also be created to ensure continued development of editorial coverage of the patch west of Cardiff.

Media Wales says the overall effect will be to reduce the number of editors by two.

The closure of the three branch offices will lead to the loss of two senior reporters' posts while one inputter's post will also be lost.

A company statement said: "Each of the six branch offices represents a significant cost to the business, however the use of new technology means that a physical presence at each of these locations is no longer essential."

The three branch offices which will remain open are those in Merthyr, Bridgend and Pontypridd.

The company is also proposing to reduce the number of production journalists in the main Cardiff newsroom by two, and the number of managers in the newsroom by one. A formal 30-day period of consultation with all staff affected by the announcement has begun.

Martin Shipton, NUJ joint father of the chapel, said: "We have voted unanimously to hold a ballot for industrial action if it emerges during talks with management that there is a real threat of any NUJ member being made redundant.

"We strongly deplore the planned job cuts and the closure of district offices, a poor way of repaying the loyalty shown by readers in the communities affected over many years."