North West publisher the CN Group has announced it is to shed 30 jobs and freeze pay increases.

The company said it was planning talks with staff over the next three weeks to determine how costs can be reduced to offset a fall in revenues during 2008.

The CN Group publishes daily title the News and Star, Carlisle, and the North West Evening Mail, Barrow, along with weeklies including the Whitehaven News, Cumberland News and Hexham Courant.

It also publishes a series of lifestyle magazines and owns radio stations, with staff across all three division being consulted over the moves which include voluntary redundancy.

The group has already decided that its radio stations in Banbury and Coventry will be sold or closed down and there will be no pay increases for staff next year.

Chief executive Robin Burgess said: "Ensuring our business remains at the centre of the communities we serve will remain foremost in our thinking.

"I am confident that our plan has the balance between saving costs and being realistic, whilst ensuring we have a viable business to take forward for the future when the economy improves."

Last month the CN Group launched a new Carlisle Living magazine to add to its stable of glossy titles.

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