Metro shuts regional offices, makes staff redundant

Associated Newspapers has taken the decision to close its five regional editorial offices, including its outpost in Manchester.

The move, first signposted yesterday, is reported to have resulted in around 30 redundancies.

Metro's regional offices were generally well respected within the industry for their local arts, entertainment and food coverage - a part of the paper, named Metro Life, that differentiated it from territory to territory.

How-Do contacted Associated regarding the story and was given the following statement:

"Metro (has) announced a series of potential redundancies from its regional editorial operations. The redundancies are part of Metro's cost reduction plans, in response to the challenging economic conditions we face.

"We will be consulting fully with employees affected by this announcement."

The regionalised coverage is now expected to be produced by Metro's partner publishers in the regions, namely GMG in Manchester and Trinity Mirror in Liverpool.

Staff affected by the decision have now apparently been put on one month's gardening leave.

Metro's other regional offices were based in Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Bristol

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