Six branch offices are set to close with journalists on some local papers being transferred to locations in neighbouring towns.

Papers understood to be affected include the Heywood Advertiser and Middleton Guardian, which will be produced in future from the offices of the Rochdale Observer.

But MEN - part of the Guardian Media Group - is denying that the changes will result in any "loss of focus" to local markets, and says the overall number of journalists employed on the titles will not decrease.

As well as Heywood and Middleton, other branch offices set to close include Didsbury and Beswick. The current Accrington office will also close due to lease expiry but a new office is expected to be opened nearby.

Meanwhile the South Manchester Reporter and Manchester Metro News, both currently based at Didsbury, will now be produced from Stockport.

Andt the Macclesfield Express and the Wilmslow Express are set to combine in a new office in Macclesfield, meaning there will be no presence in Wilmslow for the Wilmslow Express.

Staff currently based at Beswick are likely to move to the Tameside office.

A GMG statement said: "As a business we are constantly seeking to make operational efficiencies and the merger of some of our existing branch offices is a prudent move at this time as several of our leases in these areas were up for renewal.

"We remain fully committed to the localities we serve with our weekly titles and these closures will not result in any decrease in the numbers of local journalists we employ nor editorial focus we give to our local markets."