As reported on HoldtheFrontPage, subbing operations at Tamworth-based Central Independent Newspapers are to be centralised at sister daily The Sentinel, Stoke.

Further details of the proposals have now emerged and it is understood that 24 of the 42 jobs currently based at Tamworth are at risk, including the editors of four free weekly titles and features staff as well as sub-editors.

Those facing possible redundancy include Lichfield Mercury editor Tim Hewitt, Natalie Missenden, editor of the Walsall Advertiser and the Great Barr Observer, and Sutton Coldfield Observer editor Charlotte Hart.

It is proposed that in future all four free titles will come under the control of Tamworth Herald editor Gary Phelps, who was already editor-in-chief of Northcliffe-owned CIN.

In addition all of the CIN titles, including the paid-for Herald, will be subbed at the new production hub at the Sentinel's offices in Stoke.

The Tamworth centre will retain a staff of 18 comprising Gary and his deputy Phil Shanahan, together with two news editors, ten reporters, two photographers and two sports writers.

Some of the displaced staff will be able to apply for additional production posts being created in Stoke, but this will involve them making a 90-mile round trip.

In addition to the changes at Tamworth, a "single-figure number" of redundancies have been proposed at the Sentinel itself, including three photographic posts and one assistant editor role.

Editor-in-chief Mike Sassi stressed that the process was still ongoing. "We have begun a process of consultation with a number of staff. As yet we haven't made any firm decisions," he said.