Journalists at the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press are stepping up their campaign to oppose job cuts at the titles with a second day of action next week.

The protest is being backed by a number of local MPs and celebrities including actor Stephanie Cole and poet laureate Andrew Motion.

The papers’ owner, Northcliffe Newspapers, has announced plans for up to 36 editorial job losses between the two papers and consultation is under way. No decisions on numbers or roles have been made.

The proposals came after 20 posts were cut from the Bristol Observer weekly series at the centre earlier this year.

Evening Post National Union of Journalists father-of-chapel Derek Brooks said: “If we let these plans go ahead, we believe it could rip the heart out of two of the finest regional papers in the country.”

Western Daily Press FOC Paul Breeden added: “Morale is very high among staff. We are united in our belief that these proposals simply cannot work.”

Tomorrow’s protest follows a day of action on November 4 at which 75 journalists from both titles demonstrated peacefully outside the building.

Journalists at both titles recently voted in favour of holding a ballot on industrial action. A decision should be known by the end of the month.

Other well-known supporters include novelist Jilly Cooper, Bristol band Massive Attack and TV chef Keith Floyd.

Former Post journalist Keith Floyd said: “The Bristol Evening Post has done so much good for the West Country and it has also been the birthplace and the cradle for so many talented and creative people. I think that absolutely everything must be done to maintain the Evening Post’s high standards, its integrity and the jobs of its staff.”