Regional newspaper group Johnston Press has opened up a group-wide voluntary redundancy programme.

Staff have until 25 October to apply for redundancy under 'enhanced terms', the exact details of which have not been revealed.

The move comes after Johnston announced operating profit up 4 per cent year on year on a like-for-like basis to £28.6m for the first half of this year. But revenue was down almost 10 per cent to £144.2m for same period and the group remains £306.4m in debt.