Journalists at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail in Scotland could take strike action following the announcement of up to 26 compulsory redundancies at the titles.

Following weeks of negotiations with Trinity Mirror bosses,  National Union of Journalists represenatives have managed to bring the number of overall job losses planned down from 93 to 71.

However only 45 people have so far volunteered for redundancy, meaning another 26 could be forced out of the door.

The union met with company bosses on Tuesday and were told that compulsory job losses would now have to be made as not enough volunteers had come forward by the end of the consultation period on Monday.

Last week Paul Holleran Scottish organiser for the National Union of Journalists said the union would consider strike action if compulsory job losses were made.

NUJ members held a further meeting yesterday afternoon to decide on their next step and though no strike action is currently planned, they are keeping the option open.

Mr Holleran said: “There are too many people going out the door. We can now enter discussions to see what’s ahead. ”

He said if people from the higher end of the salary scale were chosen it may mean less overall redundancies.

The selection process for compulsory redundancies starts next week and will look at skills and experience as a criteria for selection.

A Trinity Mirror spokesperson said: “We continue to work with all affected staff and their representatives and we are committted to achieving as many as possible of these redundancies by voluntary mean. When we have anything to announce our staff will be the first to know.”

The union will hold a further meeting with management on Friday.