Staff at Wolverhampton's Express & Star have been told that no compulsory redundancies are anticipated, following an announcement by its owners that it was looking to cut some 40 posts at the paper.

It is understood that 30 voluntary redundancies have been found across all departments, including six in editorial.

Allied with "natural wastage" the company has been able to find the 40 posts it was looking for.

John Corser, National Union of Journalists father of chapel for the Express & Star, said: "We are happy that there are not going to be any compulsory redundancies.

"We would rather there were no redundancies at all. But we are realistic in that, in the current economic climate affecting regional newspapers, and with the fall in advertising volumes, we realise that there is a changing environment in journalism."

Managing director Alan Harris was unavailable for comment.

More than 50 staff had applied for voluntary redundancy during a 30-day consultation.

The union is not recognised at the centre, but a staff council was involved in consultation with management.

When the redundancy scheme was announced, Midland News Association said it was essential that savings were made to ensure the "long-term financial strength of the company".

It follows an earlier round of redundancies last year, which saw 14 editorial jobs lost out of a total 39 redundancies at the paper.