Four editorial redundancies are being sought at group of West Midlands weekly newspapers.

The Newsquest-owned Hereford Times and Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser are all produced from the main Hereford office by an editorial team of 22.

Sources at the papers told HoldtheFrontPage that staff were informed of the plans this week with the likely cull to involve two reporters, a photographer and sub-editor. A consultation process is now under way with staff.

In the summer the Ludlow Advertiser's office was closed in Ludlow, costing three jobs, with editorial work now done by remaining staff in Hereford.

Production work is done in Worcester and the titles are printed at Newsquest's Oxford plant. Circulation of the Hereford Times was 39,291, according to the lastest ABC figures.

Newsquest Midlands South publisher Ian Richardson was unavailable for comment.