The Folkestone Express office in the town's Sandgate Road is to close after the Kent Messenger Group announced it was also planning to shed more than a quarter of its 560-strong workforce in a fresh round of cutbacks announced on Thursday (26 February).

The family-owned group axed 59 posts including 30 editorial posts in October 2008.

The company, which runs local newspapers, websites and radio stations across the county says the economic climate has deteriorated since then and more restructuring is needed.

It is now proposing a further series of cuts which place a total of 159 jobs at risk of redundancy.

As part of the proposal, the Group is planning to outsource its printing, mailroom and distribution operations, and close its offices in Folkestone and Cliftonville in Thanet.

The group say that all the company's newspapers, websites and radio stations will continue to be produced under the proposals.

Folkestone and Thanet will be served in future from the KM offices in Ashford and Whitstable.

Managers are now consulting with all the staff affected by the proposals. The consultation is due to conclude in April.