The Burton Mail is to switch to morning publication for a month-long trial from today.

It follows a limited trial on Thursdays for the past few weeks, which has seen readers welcome the idea.

But some staff at the Burton-on-Trent-based paper are upset, claiming that the switch went through without proper consultation on the changes to the journalists’ working day.

Management say the move will give a further boost to the 15,700-circulation Mail, which has a readership of almost 40,000 in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.

The paper currently has an 11.15am deadline, which will switch to 6.30pm the previous day, except for Monday’s edition.

Editor Paul Hazeldine said: "We know that on Thursdays sales have been consistently up so we are taking it up for a month.

"Staff have been informed and involved all along and are happy with the development."

Insiders claim that the working day is being altered and working hours have already increased.

One editorial member of staff said: "The Burton Mail - one of the smallest regional daily newspapers - does not have the sufficient staff to operate such a newspaper.

"Staff contracts state they will be asked to work 73 hours per fortnight, but already some members of staff are working upwards of 90 hours and expect this to increase once the changes are in place."