A leading regional publisher is facing an unprecedented five successive days of strike action by journalists later this month in a dramatic escalation of their pay dispute.

The National Union of Journalists has formally notified National World that its members will walk out for the whole of the working week starting 23 October.

The union has refused to accept a below-inflation 4.5pc pay offer from the publisher, which owns leading regional newsbrands such as The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and The News, Portsmouth.

According to the NUJ, National World is in a position to improve its offer having reported £9.3m in operating profits last year and with £10m in cash balances.

The picket line in Portsmouth during one of last month’s stoppages. Credit: NUJ

The union’s decision to escalate the dispute comes on the back of the company’s £11m acquisition of the Midland News Association, publisher of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star.

It says the purchase of the MNA and its sister company Press Computer Systems, which provides technology solutions to publishers, means National World’s annual revenue is expected to exceed £100m.

The latest move follows three one-day stoppages in September which saw National World replicating generic front pages across multiple titles.

The union says the impact of further strike action is likely to leave communities with outdated news, as was the case last month when anniversary tributes to the late Queen were published weeks after the actual anniversary of her death.

Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said:  “The decision to take further strike action has been a difficult one for our members at National World who desperately wish the company’s leadership would engage with the NUJ to reach a fair settlement.

“The resilience displayed by journalists is rooted in their belief that changes must occur at the company to address flawed approaches to pay.

“No journalist should be forced into seeking a second job to make ends meet, and we remain open to talks encouraging the company to rethink its position, seeking solutions that bring an end to the dispute.”

HTFP has approached National World for a comment.