Up to 150 jobs and a series of district offices are under threat of being axed at MEN Media.

Up to 39 editorial jobs could go at its weekly titles around Greater Manchester along with a further 39 editorial and 72 non-editorial jobs on the Manchester Evening News, HTFP has learned.

It is expected that a combined pool of sub-editors will design and produce the MEN and the 22 weekly titles from the company's head office in Manchester city centre but it is believe no titles are under threat of closure.

All district offices except the one in Stockport – home of the Stockport Express – are also under threat of closure. These include sites in Macclesfield, Rochdale, Tameside, Salford and Wilmslow.

The company's weekly titles include the Rochdale Observer, Macclesfield Express, South Manchester Reporter, Manchester Metro News, Wilmslow Express, Heywood Advertiser and Middleton Guardian.

The National Union of Journalists has reacted angrily to the news.

A joint statement issued by the MEN and weekly chapels said: "There is some hard talking to do now. We cannot stomach a pay freeze for the masses alongside bonuses for the top table.

"We anticipate real, practical difficulties producing our weekly newspapers alongside the MEN. We fear for local democracy and for the damage to regional journalism.

"We are also completely opposed to compulsory redundancies and will not tolerate the sacking of any journalist. Management needs to understand that.

"They need to talk to us quickly and constructively about how we can avoid compulsory job losses. If they don't, we are in for a torrid time."

This latest development follows a similar series of cutbacks announced by MEN Media last September when the company closed its some centres and moved journalists to neighbouring district offices.

A series of meetings are being held with staff throughout today.