Trinity Mirror

The move, aimed at saving the company £25m a year, follows a wide-ranging review by chief executive Sly Bailey.

Trinity, which publishes the Newcastle Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun, said costs would be saved in most business areas, including through the centralisation of finance, human resources and IT functions.

The company, which has about 260 titles and 12,000 staff, is also to dispose of its newspaper division in Northern Ireland.

Ms Bailey set out a vision for a "fundamentally stronger and better performing company", and said much of the focus would be on Trinity's portfolio of national titles, including the Daily and Sunday Mirror and the People.

This would have to show a much deeper understanding of its readership, she said.

The strategy update was accompanied by half-year figures showing better-than-expected underlying pre-tax profits - up 2.6 per cent at £80.4m.

Group turnover fell slightly to £551.5m, reflecting a 2.7 per cent fall in circulation revenues after the Daily Mirror cut its cover price and experienced a 6.5 per cent year-on-year decline in sales.

The review confirmed Trinity Mirror's regional arm as a strong performer, but added that there remained significant scope for further improvement, including in circulation and new product development.

Operating profits in the regional division increased nine per cent to £62m, with double-digit growth in the North-East and Scotland offsetting more difficult trading conditions in the Midlands, London and the South East.