The Daily Telegraph’s chief foreign correspondent, Colin Freeman, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates while on assignment and threatened with execution, is among those being made redundant in a fresh round of cuts to editorial staff.

Also understood to be going are deputy editor Liz Hunt, feature writer Harry Wallop, Middle East editor Richard Spencer, Asia correspondent Phil Sherwell, home affairs correspondent David Barrett and head of arts Andrew Pettie.

Staff on the picture desk have also been targeted for redundancy in what is is understood to be a cull of at least a dozen staff.