THIRTY journalists in north-west England have been told they will be sacked to boost Newsquest’s bottom line.

The Warrington Guardian, Lancashire Telegraph and Bolton News journalists were told on Thursday that they will be fired by the US-owned newspaper group.

Newsquest is concentrating sub-editing of its regional papers on a “hub” at Newport in South Wales, 200 miles away.

Journalists at the York Press, Bradford Telegraph and Argus and Northern Echo have already been affected by Newsquest centralisation which cost 23 jobs, responding with a one-day strike.

National Union of Journalists reps Tony Howard and Vicki Stockman said: “Even though we have been expecting this news for some time, nothing prepares people for the announcement that their careers could be finished in order to save a highly profitable company even more money.”