The first newspapers have been printed at a £56m new Johnston Press plant at The News Centre in Hilsea, Portsmouth.

Some 35,000 copies of sister paper the Worthing Guardian rolled off the production line for its latest edition in the first test run to ensure the facility was working properly.

Later this year, The News itself will be printed on the new press.

It was built on the back of a deal with Johnston Press to print publications for News International, publisher of The Sun and The Times.

The company says the new press will give total flexibility for colour printing and is also faster, more efficient and produces less waste paper.

Press room manager Andy Watts said: “It’s been an absolute success. It’s given us all confidence, but this is not the end. It’s the beginning.

“We want to be doing at least one new job on the press a week, building up to several jobs a week and increasing the complexities of the jobs.”

The project included knocking down parts of the old press hall and building a new five-storey one, to give one of the most advanced presses in the world.

Work on installing the Man Roland Colourman XXL press began in February. At the height of the development there were between 60 and 80 construction workers on site.