Johnston Press is considering closing its Hartlepool printing press, and moving production of the Hartlepool Mail to Sunderland.

Consultation has begun with affected staff after the group said it was proposing to close the press because it has limited colour availability and could not meet the demands of readers and advertisers.

The printworks currently employs 25 full-time press room staff and 35 casual inserters.

If the closure went ahead the Hartlepool Mail would be printed at Johnston's press in Sunderland, which has recently been upgraded.

A number of the group's weekly titles which are currently printed in Hartlepool would be moved to Sunderland or Dinnington in South Yorkshire.

Johnston Press chief executive Tim Bowdler told HoldtheFrontPage that possible opportunities for redeployment would form part of the consultation with staff.

He said: "Sunderland is a bigger press which can provide full-colour and is only 13 miles away.

"Readers and advertisers want full-colour throughout the book and the Hartlepool press does not have that capability.

"We want to deliver high quality papers to the market."