Newsquest North West is considering closing its £17m printing plant in Bolton which opened in 2001.

If the move goes ahead, printing of its two dailies The Bolton News and Lancashire Telegraph will switch to outside Newsquest with the North Wales Newspapers' plant in Flintshire one option being considered.

The decision comes amid what the company is calling "extremely tough trading conditions and the expectation that revenues will continue to fall through 2009".

At the same time, newsprint prices are expected to increase markedly, according to a memo issued to staff by regional MD Chris Hughes.

He added: "Conditions during 2008 have deteriorated dramatically as the year has progressed.

"You will know from your work here that paginations are down significantly.

"It is expected that 2009 will continue to be a very challenging period for the company and it is therefore essential that all possible efficiency savings be considered."

The memo went on to say that all weekly titles could be printed at other plants within Newsquest.

A consultation period, due to end 5 January, is now on-going with affected staff during which alternative employment within the company will be discussed. It is not yet known how many staff are affected by the proposals.

The move is the latest in a series of cutbacks at Newsquest centres across the UK in what appears to be a concerted cost-cutting exercise.

Over the past three weeks, the company has unveiled plans to axe editorial posts at the Northern Echo, Bradford Telegraph and Argus, Hereford Times and its three Glasgow titles, The Herald, Evening Times and Sunday Herald.

In addition three senior managers' posts were axed in the company's Merseyside, Cheshire and Westmorland divisions, while two editors and an MD at its York centre were invited to compete against eachother for a single job.

Newsquest's parent company, US-based Gannett, announced in October that it planned to reduce its workforce by 10pc worldwide by early December.