Four reporters at two West Wales weeklies have agreed to a cut in working hours in a bid to prevent a fellow journalist being made redundant.

Newsquest was looking for one redundancy from the seven-strong reporting team which produces the Milford Mercury and Western Telegraph.

But the threatened job loss appears to have been averted after four reporters agreed to an equal cut in hours on the condition they all remained in their posts.

As a result of the move, which has yet to be formally approved by management, the National Union of Journalists chapel has called off a possible ballot over industrial action.

Lawrence Shaw, NUJ assistant organiser for Wales, said: "They will be working less hours and having a pay cut and if anyone was to leave the situation would revert back to normal.

"I don't think it's a particularly great solution but that's the decision the four reporters have made and I think it demonstrates they want to continue working for the paper.

"Newsquest is still a massively profitable company which has incredibly loyal staff who care about the job they do and that's what this reflects.

"It's not something the union would advocate doing and I cannot stress too much about how unhappy I am about it."

Lawrence said that no official agreement with Newsquest management had been finalised yet and the actual amount of work lost could be at least a day, if not slightly more.

The Milford Mercury's office, in Milford Haven, is also due to close within the next few weeks with staff relocating to the Western Telegraph's base, in Haverfordwest.

Other Newsquest Wales titles include the Tivyside Advertiser and South Wales Guardian which is also due to lose one reporter from its office, in Ammanford.

Newsquest Wales managing director Gavin Steacy was unavailable for comment.

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