The Essex Chronicle entered a new era this week as the printing of the paper moved from Chelmsford to the West Country.

The weekly paper has been printed in Chelmsford since it was launched 238 years ago.

But following the decision to close the printing operation at the Chronicle's Westway base at Widford, its production has now been moved to the Northcliffe-owned Staverton plant which prints the Gloucester Citizen, Gloucestershire Echo and a number of weekly papers.

The closure, which has meant the loss of 55 press and post press jobs, has been blamed on a loss of printing contracts at the Chelmsford press.

Chronicle editor Stuart Rawlins said: "This closure is extremely regrettable but it will not affect the publication of the Chronicle.

"For 238 years the newspaper has been printed in Chelmsford and has served communities all over the county and reported on the changes in those communities. This is another story to be recorded.

"The press is one of the oldest of its type in the UK and would need considerable investment to continue to meet the increasing challenges of modern publishing."

He said the use of a more modern press will allow more colour opportunities to develop the title both for readers and advertisers.

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