More than 40 Press Association sports journalists are to be put on paid leave due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 39 sports journalists and five racing journalists at the national news agency will be placed on the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.

The scheme covers 80pc of wages up to a maximum of £30,000 per year.

In PA’s sports department, 22 journalists will be retained to provide updates on how the crisis is affecting different sports ans to write features and archival content.

A number of employees from across PA Media Group will also be furloughed or take unpaid leave, with aroung 25pc of staff affected in total.

A PA Media Group spokesperson said: “From this week, 44 PA journalists, 39 in sport editorial, and the remainder in racing, are being temporarily furloughed due to the cessation of sport and racing worldwide.

“Another 22 sports journalists will continue to work normally, providing regular updates on the impact of the crisis on sport, plus features and archival content to assist our customers in populating their sports sections during the current extraordinary circumstances. PA’s news operation continues to operate normally and is unaffected by these measures.

“In addition, a number employees from across all PA Media Group companies will be furloughed or take unpaid leave. Taken together, these measures affect roughly 25pc of the group’s total staff.

“As well as the steps announced today, PA Media Group’s senior executive management have already opted to reduce their salary by 30pc and the company will be considering what further measures should be taken to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19.”

Regional publishers which have announced they will be furloughing staff due to the crisis include Newsquest and the Midland News Association.