Production of The Press is to move to Bradford, while the Northern Echo, also currently printed in York, will in future be printed by Trinity Mirror at its plant on Teesside.

The latter move is particularly significant as the Echo has traditionally been in competition with Trinity's North-East titles, the Teesside-based Evening Gazette and The Journal, Newcastle.

The decision brings to an end more than 200 years of industrial heritage in York. The Press, previously known as the York Herald and the Yorkshire Evening Press, has been printed in the medieval walled city since 1790.

Today's announcement by Newsquest North East means that from January 18, the print operation for both The Press and its weekly stablemate the Gazette and Herald will move 35 miles to its sister Newsquest paper, the Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

The National Union of Journalists chapel at the York titles - currently voting on proposed industrial action over a pay freeze and the prospect of compulsory redundancies - has condemned the plans.

Said Father of Chapel Tony Kelly: "It is outrageous that such a long-standing tradition of a thriving newspaper being printed in York, one of England's greatest cities, will soon be at an end.

"The management have cited 'challenging trading conditions' and 'steps to improve the efficiency' of the business, but we understand Newsquest York will turn in a profit of £1m this year following on from the 2007 profit of £4.3m."

Newsquest North East has declined to comment further. A formal consultation on the plans is due to end on January 18.