BUTCHERY of Britain’s regional newspaper industry continues as bosses axed seven jobs and shut a free weekly publication in north-west England.

The Burnley Citizen, owned by regional publishing group Newsquest, closes today.

Newsquest is a subsidiary of the aptly-named Gannett, a US conglomerate.

Newsquest has also axed jobs in Yorkshire and north-east England by transferring local subediting to a central “hub” in Wales.

Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) resisted with strike action, but the cuts continued as Newsquest abolished the jobs of northern staff photographers, including that of leading NUJ activist Bob Smith of the Keighley News in West Yorkshire.

Chris Gee, NUJ office branch chairman at Newsquest at Blackburn, whose staff provided material for the Burnley Citizen, said: “Around 20 news professionals, the vast majority talented and experienced journalists, have lost their jobs in the Blackburn newsroom since the start of October.”